Above, a parody of the secret Prince Fielder negotiations between Scott Boras and Ted Lerner. Sounds about right if you ask us...
Our understanding is that today is/was a very important day -- if Boras really is holding out for the Rangers to make a decision on Yu Darvish (maybe Fielder is on board with this idea because he really likes the idea of no state income tax in Texas?), or for the mystery team to beat the Nats best offer (Blue Jays?) does Lerner get pissed off and pull his offer off the table? Yes, we asked the same question earlier today...but it seems worth repeating.
Jim Bowden's take on the situation on MLB Network Radio Friday afternoon is also worth repeating (via Federal Baseball):
"Here's the problem...The problem is, they are in serious negotiations with Scott Boras, which they can't deny.
...They have made offers, multiple offers to Prince Fielder, which they cannot deny. They know the difference that he would make in that franchise, making them an instant playoff contender. They know that. Ted Lerner, the owner, is 86-years-old, he wants to win, and he'd like to win now and the Lerner family would like to see him win. Here's the biggest problem: Mike Rizzo's prepared to step up and get this thing done, but this is Ted Lerner's baseball team, and they do everything by a vote with a board of directors and the board of directors are mixed."
Dunno, but we "think" (air quotes!) ultimately this will be Ted Lerner's call.
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I feel like a fly on the wall in the Lerner offices!
Posted by: Anonymouse | January 06, 2012 at 08:03 PM
Laughing my tushie off. Loved the "you called my bluff" and the billionaire replies were great.
Posted by: NatsLink | January 06, 2012 at 08:27 PM
Don't BS me Scott! LMAO
Posted by: Michael L.G. | January 06, 2012 at 08:56 PM
"I own this friggin office building!"
Posted by: Michael L.G. | January 06, 2012 at 08:57 PM
"...after you screwed me on the Jayson Werth deal...Worst 126 million dollars I've spent"
Posted by: JDC | January 06, 2012 at 09:40 PM
Dude...Bowden is right on.....if the Nats do everything by a vote of the Board of Directors, you know they're looking at future salaries for Zimmerman, Strausburg, Harper, Espinosa/Desmond, Zimmermann, Gonzalez, Ramos, etc. Plus the Werth contract.... They must be freaked out by the massive payroll to keep this team together beyond 2013. We're talking Yankees/Red Sox territory. I'm sure some of the Board members are freaked out about signing Prince.
Posted by: Homer | January 06, 2012 at 11:11 PM
PS....
I think you're right...signing Prince will be Lerner's call. I'm heartened by Bowden's comment about Ted Lerner being 86 and wanting to win now. But I would hate to see the Nats get roped in to a long term deal for Prince. 5 years yes, but 8-10....no!!
Posted by: Homer | January 06, 2012 at 11:32 PM
Still laughing, Boras still needs to rip off some GMs on Edwin Jackson and Ryan Madson.
Posted by: NatsLink | January 07, 2012 at 08:19 AM