Teixeira Balks at Boston, Again

Mark Teixeira definitely has something against Boston. In fact, his not-signing-with the Red Sox is actually the second time Teixeira has rejected a Boston offer. After his senior season in high school, the Red Sox offered Teixeira a $1.5 million bonus as they targeted him for the first round of the draft. That left Teixeira a little on edge. Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reported that Teixeira said; "I have a very cynical approach towards the draft. I was naïve. It was my first realization to the business in baseball. The Red Sox told everybody that I wouldn't sign, and when it got to a late enough round, they said, "Let's take a flier on him." So they spoiled me for everyone else." The Red Sox drafted Teixeira in the 9th round, however he chose to go to Georgia Tech instead. He then was drafted by the Rangers fifth overall in the 2001 draft. Teixeira still is upset about what the Red Sox did to him and that may have played a role in why he didn't want to go there.