MVN: Most Valuable Network

I guess we have to write something in this space about how Mark Teixeira has decided to take an eight-year, $180-million deal with the Yankees.

But honestly, I really don't care anymore. Hence, the big fat YAWN.

As negotiations dragged on with Mark Teixeira, I became more and more frustrated with he and Scott Boras. If Teixeira really wanted to play for the Angels, he would have signed an eight-year deal worth $160 million.

Instead he opted for more money - can't blame him for that. Can't blame Boras. This is the way that Major League Baseball is set up - this is the way the system works. Until you see a more stable economic system with a salary cap, this is the way it will be - even with the Yankees paying into luxury tax.

YAWN.

Over the next few hours and days, you will read countless columns and blogs with a majority criticizing Boras and Teixeira with nearly as many making the point I just did - that Teixeira can sign with whoever he wants and for as much as he wants.

The point is: We have seen this story before. The Yankees - because of their years of success combined with a well-run club - can afford to pay anyone just about anything. And many sports fans get upset about it - except for Yankee fans.

YAWN.

(But as the Yankees continue to throw money at players, I wonder how many Yankee fans can honestly look at their team with pride and say, "This is my team. This is how you build a championship team. This is the way baseball teams should be constructed." Not many, I don't think.)

But anyway, Teixeira is gone and I don't think too many Angel fans will miss him. When the Angels traded Casey Kotchman and a minor league reliever for Teixeira, the Angels management and their fans knew that Tex could be a rental player. And he was.

I grew about as attached to Teixeira this summer as I did to the Ford Focus I rented a month ago. Like the car, it did its job and we parted ways. I am not fond of the car although I appreciated it.

While losing Teixeira is a blow to the Angels, this team is not finished and will contend in 2009. The Halos can replace Teixeira at first base for a margin of the price with Kendry Morales. The Angels can maybe sign Brian Fuentes to fortify the bullpen. Maybe the Angels can trade for Jake Peavy.

Although Teixeira was signed to get the Angels "over the hump" and win the World Series, that didn't happen this year. He got them as far as they did the year before.

There was no guarantee that if Tex had signed with the Angels that he was going to help them win the World Series in 2009 and 2010 either.

And there is no guarantee that Teixeira will help the Yankees win the World Series next year.

And if the Yankees do win the series in 2009? YAWN.