Is Henry Calling Satan's Bluff?

In a stunning development last night, Red Sox owner John Henry announced that the Red Sox have effectively pulled out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, and that the Sox have been outbid by another team. (Henry did not elaborate in the emails he sent out about it who that other team is.)

Here's more about it from WBZ-TV in Boston.

Henry said in an email that,"We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."

Now, the next thing you have to wonder is if this was Henry's way of calling the bluff of the Devil Incarnate (known here on Planet Earth as Scott Boras) that there really is an offer that eclipses the one the Sox made to Teixeira. The Red Sox offer supposedly is eight years, $184 million ($23 million per year). There are supposedly just three other teams in the bidding: the Angels, Orioles and Nationals. (You can never count the Yankees out in matters like this, but all signs have pointed that they aren't serious about Teixeira.)

So, have one of the other clubs ACTUALLY given Boras a better deal than the Sox, or is this yet another elaborate bid by the Prince of Darkness to get more money out of Henry and the Sox?

Stay tuned. It's really getting interesting now.