Angels’ offer is big deal

General Manager Tony Reagins has confirmed that the Angels made an eight-year offer to free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, and though financial terms were not disclosed, the proposal is believed to be worth at least $160 million.

Reagins wouldn’t say whether the offer, extended to agent Scott Boras by owner Arte Moreno at the winter meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday, was an increase in years and dollars from an earlier offer or if it was the team’s best and final offer.

But the GM did intimate that the Angels, who are facing stiff competition from the Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles to sign the switch-hitting slugger, probably won’t go much higher.

“We think it’s a competitive offer, we think it’s a fair offer, and we think we offer a lot of positives,” Reagins said Saturday.

“The ball is in their court.”

The Nationals, who hope to make Teixeira the centerpiece of a franchise they feel is on the rise despite a 102-loss season in 2008, reportedly have offered Teixeira eight years and $160 million.

The Orioles, who hope to lure Teixeira, who grew up in the Baltimore suburb of Saverna Park, back to his hometown and hitter-friendly Camden Yards, reportedly have offered him a seven-year deal, believed to be in the $150-million range.

Details of a Red Sox offer have not been reported, but the team has made Teixeira its top priority and is believed to be prepared to match any offer the Angels extend.

The Angels and Red Sox don’t feel they need to bid quite as high as the Orioles and Nationals because they can offer something Washington and Baltimore can’t -- a spot on a perennial playoff-contending team and owners with track records of spending the kind of money it takes to sustain a winner.

Reagins did not say whether the Angels’ offer came with an expiration date.

“But at some point, we have to go about our business and look at other alternatives if a deal with Mark is not reached,” Reagins said. “We’re not at that point yet.”

When is that point?

“Well,” Reagins said, “spring training is getting closer every day.”

One contingency plan the Angels pursued, free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, is off the board -- the veteran slugger reportedly agreed to a three-year, $31.5-million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

If Teixeira signs elsewhere, the Angels probably would start switch-hitter Kendry Morales at first base and pursue an outfielder such as Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Garret Anderson or Juan Rivera.

Or, the Angels could use the money budgeted for Teixeira to beef up their pitching staff, pursuing a trade for San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy or a deal for free-agent closer Brian Fuentes, a Merced, Calif., native who on Friday told the Merced Sun-Star he sees “a great fit” with the Angels.

If Teixeira, who in 54 games for the Angels after his July 29 trade from Atlanta hit .358 with a .449 on-base percentage, 13 home runs and 43 runs batted in, returns, the Angels probably would move Morales, who will make only $600,000 in 2009, into their outfield/designated hitter rotation.

The Angels probably still would have the resources to pursue Fuentes or a lower-priced starting pitcher.

If Teixeira returns, his deal would be the longest and richest in franchise history, dwarfing the previous high, the five-year, $90-million contract center fielder Torii Hunter signed last winter.

“We think the value we placed on the player is fair,” Reagins said of his offer to Teixeira.

The Angels had exclusive negotiating rights with Teixeira for the first 15 days after the World Series, but they declined to make an offer during that time and said they would do so at an appropriate time.

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DiGiovanna is a Times staff writer

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

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