Angels offer 1B Teixeira eight-year contract

Dec 13, 2008 - 8:43 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim offered free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira an eight-year contract at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.

Owner Arte Moreno met with Scott Boras, Teixeira's agent, and presented him with the offer, which is believed to be worth at least $160 million and possibly as much as $180 million over the life of the contract.

"It's something they can consider - or should consider," Angels general manager Tony Reagins told MLB.com on Friday. "They have the right."

Other teams in the battle for Teixeira are the Baltimore Orioles (seven years, $140-150 million), Washington Nationals (eight years, $160 million) and Boston Red Sox. The New York Yankees also have expressed interest.

Teixeira, 28, was acquired by the Angels in a July 29 deal with the Atlanta Braves last season and hit 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 54 games. Overall, he finished the season with a .308 average, 33 homers and 121 RBI.

It marked the fifth straight 30-homer, 100-RBI season for Teixeira.

He batted .467 with seven hits and four walks in the American League Division Series as the Angels fell to the Red Sox in four games.