Mark Teixeira to Braves a Done Deal

by Eric Simon on Jul 30, 2007 11:34 AM EDT in Other Teams Comment 5 comments

Via Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports, Mark Teixeira to the Braves is all but done, with a medical review the only thing holding up the agreement. Texas would get Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Class A shortstop Elvis Andrus and two pitching prospects. A nice haul for the Rangers, depending on the prospects, and a big short-term windfall for the Braves, who have struggled to get production at first this season.

Things in the NL East just got a whole lot more interesting, folks. Stay tuned.

UPDATE [11:35pm]: Pitching prospects rumored to be in the deal, coming from the Braves, include Matt Harrison and Jo-Jo Reyes. The Braves are also said to be getting reliever Ron Mahay from the Rangers in addition to Teixeira. Mahay has a 2.78 ERA despite mediocre peripherals.

Tex is hitting .297/.397/.524, is a switch-hitter and a very good gloveman at first.

UPDATE [12:03pm]: Looks like Harrison is included. It's a good deal for both teams, short-term for the Braves and long-term for the Rangers. Braves' GM John Schuerholz likes to lock up impending free agents long-term (a la Tim Hudson), but look for the Scott Boras-represented Teixeira to hit the free agent market following 2008, his final year of arbitration eligbility. Carlos Delgado is also set to hit the market following next season, so connect your own dots there.

UPDATE [12:06pm]: ESPN.com is reporting it now, too.

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meh

Jo-Jo Reyes is a funny name.

That's all I have to add, really.

by Josh on Jul 30, 2007 12:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ack

I still feel like the Mets are a better bet to win the division than the Braves, especially since the Mets have a 4.5 game lead. Still, the idea of Texiera playing for the Braves makes me nervous.

by ams258 on Jul 30, 2007 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tex

Eh, I'm not even sure I'd want Teixeira in 2009. He'll be 29 then, and he's a first baseman who's a career .264/.358/.489 outside of Arlington. Those are good numbers for a first baseman, but not outstanding. I'd certainly want to see how the next year and a two months play out before I'd think about him as a Met. Meanwhile, I don't think the Braves will actually miss the players they've traded away. Salty was superfluous, I'm not sold on Andrus, and the pitching prospects were largely replaceable. However, it does deplete their system of chips they can use to acquire other players.

by Blackfish on Jul 30, 2007 1:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs