It feels like Boras is bluffing

Just about all of us hate buying cars, playing that stupid game with the salesman and his boss and the financing guy. The key for the buyer is to be able to walk away at any time with no regrets.

This scenario seems to be playing out between agent Scott Boras and Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, with Boras in the dealer role and Epstein as the buyer. The vehicle in this case is first baseman Mark Teixeira, the best free agent still on the market. And the money is a lot more than what it costs for a four-door sedan.

ESPN.com is reporting that Boras wants an eight-year deal for about $195 million. The Red Sox are offering about $25 million less than that. And the Red Sox are playing this hand like it's a big-time bluff by Boras, issuing a statement that they're out of the running for Teixeira, who hit .309 with 33 homers and 121 RBI last season. But not many people think that's actually the case.

Are the Angels or Nationals really offering that much? The Red Sox don't think so. And after all, Boston already have Mike Lowell at third and Kevin Youkilis at first - they don't really need Teixeira.

"It's a poker game," said a high-ranking official for one of the teams, to ESPN.com. "Unless Teixeira is ready to make a deal now, he'll be talking to Boston again."

And this isn't the first dance between Boras and Epstein. Boras also is the agent for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed with the Red Sox after a protracted negotiation before the 2007 season, and for Alex Rodriguez, who famously used the Red Sox as a negotiating ploy when he signed with the Yankees a few years ago. This feels like another game Boras is playing, trying to drive up the price.

A prediction: Teixeira will end up with the Red Sox, and before the calendar turns over to 2009. And for a lot less than $195 million.