Think of all the people who could and should visit or call Teixeira on behalf of the Orioles. There's Gary Kendall, the Aberdeen IronBirds manager, who coached Teixeira when he was a teen. There's Orioles scout Dean Albany, who has known the Teixeira family since Little League.
Current Orioles such as Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts and Dave Trembley could pitch in. And so could former standouts still with the organization: Jim Palmer, Mike Flanagan, Rick Dempsey, Boog Powell.
Then there's a significant ace up the Orioles' sleeve. A hometown boy who did OK for the hometown team: Cal Ripken Jr.
Ripken is on a goodwill baseball trip to Nicaragua; he's always busy with his own endeavors. But it's hard to believe Ripken, if asked, wouldn't place a call to Teixeira at some point as a favor to Orioles owner Peter Angelos.
Even more so than Ripken, Angelos' individual pursuit of Teixeira could be the key here. He has done it before, though he has distanced himself from that process recently.
Here's a situation in which fans would welcome the owner's involvement. Angelos is an impressive personality; he can be charming and persuasive. And the fact that he would get involved would have to impress Teixeira.
Boras likes to deal directly with owners, such as the Texas Rangers' Tom Hicks and the Detroit Tigers' Mike Ilitch, who recruited Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez.
Ilitch "was there and personally involved. He said to Pudge, 'Look in my eyes. I am going to change this team,' " Boras said. "And in three years he did that. ... Those are the things, in my mind, that impress players. No doubt about it, they do."
That, and Ilitch and Hicks surrendered boatloads of cash to the superstars.
Orioles fans don't expect Teixeira to end up here. They don't want to be embarrassed, either. They want to know that a true effort was made.
The most important part of the equation is financial. But it's not the only part.
Cue the marching band; it's time for the Orioles' old college recruiting try.
