Perhaps, at the least, it will make life interesting for the Red Sox and their interest in Tex?

What brings this on? See this “intell” via Tony Massarotti:

Here’s a prediction: By the time this is over, win or lose, the Red Sox effectively will have made Mark Teixeira the largest contract offer in the history of your storied franchise.

Preposterous, you say? Clearly, you have not been paying attention. Since the Red Sox changed ownership, management, and philosophies early in 2002, the new owners and operators of the Red Sox have stopped at virtually nothing to acquire those things they have coveted most. When the best of the rest were bidding $35 million-$40 million to acquire the rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox bid $51.11 million. When the rest of the world wondered why J.D. Drew opted out of his contract in Los Angeles, the Red Sox dropped $70 million in Drew’s lap. And knowing what we know now, nothing might have been more aggressive than the $36 million the Sox paid for Julio Lugo.

The point is this:

When the Sox want something enough, they make sure they get it.

In the case of Teixeira, rest assured that the Sox want him, no matter what games are being played by club officials. Publicly and privately, the Sox are saying nothing about their interest in Teixeira and playing dumb every time his name comes up. It’s as sure a sign as any that they are preparing to go to extraordinary lengths. Last year, in the midst of the Johan Santana trade talks, the Sox were far more forthcoming about who and what they were willing to offer. When all was said and done, the Sox were not interested in acquiring Santana so much as they were interested in driving up the price for the rival Yankees; as it turned out, they kept Santana out of the Bronx altogether.

Two years ago, when the Red Sox signed Matsuzaka, many were stunned at the lengths to which the Red Sox went. We later learned that the Sox had Matsuzaka on their radar for years, that their pursuit of him had been plotted for some time. Now the Sox’ free agent of choice is Teixeira, who long has been due to hit the open market in the fall of 2008 and whom the Red Sox have lusted after for quite some time.

Do you really think they came this far to make him some sort of halfhearted offer?

Then again, maybe the Yankees are hoping that the Angels make the Sox sweat? Via Mike DiGiovanna:

The Angels have targeted Teixeira as their top priority, but their strategy appears to be to wait until several teams have made formal offers, then make Teixeira a very aggressive offer with a firm deadline for him to accept or reject it.

There has been speculation Teixeira is seeking a deal in the 10-year, $200-million range. The Angels are willing to pay Teixeira $20 million a year, but they would prefer a five- or six-year contract.

One development working in the Angels’ favor: The New York Yankees acquired first baseman Nick Swisher from the Chicago White Sox and apparently won’t enter the Teixeira sweepstakes.

You know…Scott Boras would probably throw the Yankees a bone for getting in the mix, at least just for show, right? Then again, maybe the Yankees are worried about teasing their fan base if they just play footsie with Tex and not make a real move?