As the bidding intensifies for free agent Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox [team stats] have let it be known they are willing to go only so far. Should another team up the ante and, as has been speculated, offer a 10-year deal, the Sox won’t be willing to go to such lengths to sign the first baseman.

Asked yesterday if the club would categorically rule out offering any free agent a guaranteed deal longer than any other in franchise history, principal owner John Henry, while making clear his remarks were not aimed at a specific player, made his intentions clear.