Christmas is over, slow days resume ...

But in case you forgot, the Phillies were the top Philadelphia sports story in 2008. Just to be certain, though, Christine will soon pop in one of her DVDs to make sure they still win it all.

More Teixeira: The Globe profiled Lars Anderson, a top hitting prospect whose arrival in Boston may be pushed up because Mark Teixeira decided to play for the bucks, not trophies.

And, Joe Sheehan at Baseball Prospectus has a pretty good take on what effect the Empire's spending spree will have on the AL East. Basically, the two powerhouses are now even: The Yankees will have the better offense, the Red Sox have the better defense. And the team that actually won the division in 2008?

Both are ahead of the Rays, who are likely to regress a bit in '09 before being scary good in the years that follow.

Yup, 2009 hasn't even started and the analysts are already writing off the AL champs, just like they did for all of 2008.

Personal note: I retired Mo Vaughn today.

Teixeira afraid of winning

After much speculation and many teams tiring of Scott Boras' act, Mark Teixeira has opted for the money over the chance to win in Boston or the challenge of trying to build a winner in Washington.

I was a bit surprised, but it's probably a smart move by the Yankees - even thought it's short-sighted and reverts to their oh-so-successful ways of buying players for a championship that never happens.

You can buy talent, but not the heart of a champion. And champions are crowned in October (November next year), not December.

The Yankees have spent billions since 2001 pursuing a World Series victory attained by the Diamondbacks, Angels, Marlins, Red Sox (twice), White Sox, Cardinals and Phillies. This signing doesn't make me think anything will change:

Teixeira's salary gives the Yankees, who are preparing to move into their $1.3 billion new ballpark in April, the four highest-paid players in Major League Baseball: himself, Sabathia, third baseman Alex Rodriguez (10 years, $275 million) and shortstop Derek Jeter(10 years, $189 million).

"From the moment we arrived in Boston in late 2001, we saw it as a monumental challenge," team owner John Henry said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "We sought to reduce the financial gap and succeeded to a degree. Now with a new stadium filled with revenue opportunities, they have leaped away from us again. So we have to be even more careful in deploying our resources."

But the Red Sox still have the smarter ownership and better farm system.

A new foe

We spend a lot of time here at SoxandPhils analyzing the ridiculous or offensive statements made toward our teams by the Yankees and Mets.

Today emerged a new trash-talking enemy to both of our teams: Collin Balester, a rookie who pitched in 15 games last year - including three losses against the Phillies. He said no other team, including the last two World Champions, should bother showing up for the playoffs should Mark Teixeira sign with the Nationals - a likely scenario given his top suitors claim they have dropped out of the bidding.

{Yeah right. He's going to end up in Boston. Too bad he won't help them get past the Rays.}

Teixeira, Balester said, would transform the Nationals from losing 102 games to sweeping the World Series.

"That guy is a great player and if he comes to the nation's capitol, watch out, we're going to the World Series and we are winning it all. I'm calling it right now. We're playing four games in the World Series, sweep, see ya!"

Now Teixeira, although probably overrated, is a good player, but he's not that good. At best, Mr. Balester, Tex could elevate you past riffraff like the Mets.

You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out

Last night, hours after reports that the Red Sox might have been close to a deal with Mark Teixeira, owner John Henry said the Sox were outbid:

"We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him," Henry said in an e-mail time-stamped 10:45 p.m. "After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."

But all that did was start the speculation whether Scott Boras was lying about other offers and whether the Sox were bluffing. Didn't we go through this with Daisuke Matsuzaka two years ago?

And, like Dice-K, the Sox have to sign Teixeira because I worked hard this week to learn how to spell his name.

While the professionals were trying to figure out what all this posturing means, we got our six pack of Phillies (and a Red Sox) tickets. We're going to see the 2008 World Champions take on the 2007 World Champs, Mets, Cardinals, Braves and Marlins twice.

Best promotion of the year: Charlie Manuel bobble figurine: April 28.

The GM is smarter than his players

Although Omar Minaya hasn't shown much smarts in trying to assemble a team of winning players, at least he's bright enough to recognize a winner when one slaps him around. Unlike his players Francisco Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran, who have proclaimed the Mets the team to beat despite all the contradicting evidence, Minaya stuck to the facts:

"We're not better than them, no," Minaya said of the Mets' NL East rivals. "Right now, they're world champions.

"The only way you get to be better than them is to beat them. You've got to go out there and get it done. You don't win championships on paper. I've never believed in that. Do I think we've improved our club? Yes. But the bottom line is the Phillies have won the World Series and they won the division twice. They have a good team and the experience of being in playoffs and World Series - that is huge. So we have a lot of work to do."

Omar Minaya: a gracious loser. But still a loser.

In other news: Nothing doing yet with Mark Teixeira, and Chase "f---king" Utley might have local broadcasters in trouble.

***UPDATE***: There may be a deal tonight.

Here comes Teixeira

I never bought into the rumors that the Red Sox would get Mark Teixeira. It just didn't add up, but now it appears that the Red Sox are the likely destination for the most coveted free agent of 2008 who isn't a pitcher with conditioning questions.

I'm also warming to the idea of bringing Teixeira aboard. Yeah, he's going to be expensive, but I'd rather have him and Kevin Youkilis at the corners than Youk and Mike Lowell. Even if you could guarantee that Lowell's injury woes are over, Teixeira is by far more productive.

So I think I've gone from not really wanting him to a fear that someone else will snatch him up at the last minute.

If that happens, there's always Manny Ramirez. Oops, too late. The Yankees are "going hard" for him. I'd love to see them get him, except for the 18 games against the Red Sox when he'll surely wreck us.

Screw the numbers, he's got Jesus

Raul Ibanez met the media today (those who weren't canned this month), and he put to rest any questions about his age or defense.

I love hearing it. It's one of the things I enjoy because I know that I can continue to be productive. I know this. The good Lord has blessed me with ability. He's blessed me with what I believe to be an incredible work ethic, and an incredible drive to attempt to succeed no matter what. So I think I can continue doing this for a while. As a man I couldn't have come here unless I was able to do that.

Great. I know Major League proved Jesus can hit a curve ball, but I'd like something a bit stronger to refute the evidence that the Phillies made a mistake in left field for 2009.

And he's not going to be very interesting. He declined to get into a feud with the Mets new closer Francisco Rodriguez.

I'm sorry. I'm a pretty boring guy.

While the Phils' big-ticket item took center stage, the Red Sox await word from Mark Teixeira, who may be close to a decision. The Red Sox are one of five teams in it, but the price keeps rising.

Congrats to New York

Once again, it looks like New York will win the hot stove league, with the Yankees getting CC Sabathia and the Mets getting Francisco Rodriguez.

We at SoxandPhils quake in our cleats.

Fact is, the Red Sox and Phillies have supposedly been bested by their New York competition in most recent offseasons - Johan Santana, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Billy Wagner. How many rings do those guys have? One. Johnny Damon for the 2004 Red Sox.

So let the New Yorkers enjoy their early Christmas presents. We at the home of the World Series Champions know that Phanta Claus delivers the real goodies in October.

Before I get to the teams that matter, one more CC point. I bet the guy most thrilled to have him on the team is Alex Rodriguez, so he's not the only nine-figure playoff choker in the Bronx.

Phillies: Not a good day. I didn't check the clips before heading out for an oil change, so I was surprise to overhear - while enjoying some pumpkin pancakes - that Jaime Moyer was demanding a two-year $20 million deal. And I thought Charlie Manuel was the one who was going to dampen the World Series afterglow with contract negotiations?

And I know we've been resigned that Pat Burrell's a goner, but it was sad hearing his agent put some finality to it.

Red Sox: Most of the news is status quo ... ripping the Sabathia deal and insistent reports that they're legitimately in on Mark Teixeira. But now there are some John Smoltz murmurs. I always like Smoltz and thought he could be a Red Sox, but he is 42 years old now.

This just in: The Phillies made their big trade. Yea! Minor league catcher Jason Jaramillo for backup catcher Ronny Paulino. Scott Lauber says this must mean Chris Coste's days are numbered.