Teixeira Trade Talk Continues

A host of clubs are currently in on Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

We've heard the most about the Dodgers and Angels competing to acquire him.  However, as Buster Olney notes, both clubs have promising young cheap first basemen.  Though Teixeira has the track record, is he significantly better than James Loney or Casey Kotchman?  Grant says the Dodgers have been scouting the Rangers and could go for one of their relievers as well.  Meanwhile, the Rangers are scouting the Angels.

Grant says additional contenders like Teixeira: the Braves, Red Sox, and Yankees.  Kevin Youkilis has been Boston's first baseman this year.  However, they could shift him back to third base and trade impending free agent Mike Lowell for something useful.  The Braves and Yankees definitely have room at first base for Tex. 

In the Braves' case, though, there would truly be nowhere for Jarrod Saltalamacchia to play if he wasn't included in the deal.  The Braves are in an odd place, with two excellent young starting catchers on the roster.  Atlanta's strongest need right now is starting pitching, however.  The Baseball Opinion connects the dots and finds a Javier Vazquez acquisition possible.    

Grant believes noncontenders such as the Orioles and Giants could be interested in Teixeira as well.  The Giants could use some star power if they cut ties with Barry Bonds after the season.  Brian Sabean now has the job security to think about the post-Bonds Giants.  The Orioles would be bringing in their hometown boy and could make a corresponding trade of Miguel Tejada.

Comments

[was385]

From everything that has been reported, JS has been asking for a young top of the rotation starter and nothing less for Saltalamacchia. People need to stop assuming that a guy like Vazquez would land Salty. If the White Sox and Braves do make a deal, the center piece would be Yunel Escobar or Brent Lillibridge most likely.

[zubes007]

Teixeira better than Loney? For sure...better than Kotchman? Not so sure...

Saltalamacchia for Vazquez makes a lot of sense I think...maybe I've read Tim's stuff for too long now, but Vazquez is very good and provides a lot of cost certainty...maybe the White Sox could throw in Contreras+$$$...he is type of guy (low K rate) that could use the NL right about now.

[insomniac]

Is Texeria so old he can't play outfield anymore?

That seems at least somewhat logical if he could play left field and put one of Diaz or Harris in the deal, both of who are very valuable.

The Braves are not trading Salty. There is no logic behind that move. The only thing I could think of is maybe to get some young pitching, try and go after Gorzelanny or Snell of the Pirates. Vasquez is just too old for the Braves to trade a rising star.

Chances are, if Tex moves it's gonna be to LA.

[J.L.]

zubes007, loney and kotchman are thought to have very similar upsides: .300 plus average, 20 HRs, Gold glove defense. I agree with the premise it really makes no sense for either LA teams to pursue this. They could use an offense upgrade but not at first. Texas is going to be hard pressed to get a good package for Tex when he almost certainly won't be playing out west after 08.

[Thundersticks]

Salty for Vazquez is a little steep, but if with the cost of pitching these days, JS may have no choice but to make that deal if KW is willing to kick in a little change.

I feel pretty confident that JS is talking with the Pirates about one of their SP. My preference would be for Gorzelanny as he is a lefty, but Snell is probably a slightly better pitcher. Salty straight up may also be a little steep so look for Salty & a lower level prospect for Gorzelanny & Marte. This would solidify the rotation and add another lefty to the BP.

Vazquez is more proven, dominant, and a difference-maker while Gorzelanny is the more fiscally responsible choice.

By the way, the Braves were reportedly scouting the Pirates, Reds, and Mariners recently with some of their higher-level scouts.

[was385]

I know they were scouting Arroyo earlier in the year.

[zubes007]

JL...

...Kotchman and Loney are certainly similar, but Kotchman is slightly better in all areas (power, patience, defence) except for average, which makes him a better player IMO...not a very objective analysis, but there is my reasoning nonetheless.

[J.L.]

zubes, not sure if you're basing this comparison on minor league numbers or major league or what, but I guess I'll go along with it. They are both "grow into their power" type players, and Loney's a year or so young which might play into the power question. Point being for either team to give up these guys just to have Tex for a little while would be a big mistake imo. They'll both be solid 1b going fwd.

[bravesbeast]

Was, Insomniac, Thundersticks,

You all are exactly right. Vazquez would make a great addition, but he is just not worth salty because of age. I understand we could definitely use him, but he is just not worth our top catching and hitting prospect, just makes no sense for use to trade away two promising pieces of our future for the next two or 3 seasons.

I also echo yall and what i have been saying all along, salty only needs to be traded for a bounty that is better for us now and in the future, such as a snell. Gorzelanny I think he pitching a little above his head, but i completely agree that he is a good young pitcher. I agree with was though, we just need to see what our middle infield depth in the minors could get us. Now, a great choice i think, since we were scouting the reds would be Aaron harang, but Krivisky would just ask for way too much. I really think lowry could be available as well as vazquez using our middle infield depth as the a main piece in a package for either one of them.

[ArodSucksAtLife]

Ya screw the solid ML pitcher with a W.S. ring and a proven track record. Keep the kid with 100 ml at bats! We can eventual trade him for his weight in pure gold, or the cure to Aids. I mean its not like he is blocked from playing his natural position therefor lowering his worth to our team. Rah Rah Go Braves!!!!!

[bravesbeast]

Again, you are making absolutely no sense. Vazquez would be a great addition, there is no doubt. But Vazquez has been rocky at times, definitely not to the extent of others, but still has been. And you also have to consider the fact that the braves just no not have the luxery of adding on another 10 or more million dollar contract going into 2008 or 2009, and have already stated they are not looking for players who have big contracts extending past this season because they have so many question marks. Having vazquez picthing like this is a nice problem to have in terms of finances, but he is just not worth a future middle of the order rock.

He is also not worth salty because, in correcting your idiotic lowering his worth statement, salty actually is MORE valuable to us not playing his natural position. The reason why is because if he was playing his natural position, he would be getting no at bats, because we have a better option at catcher. Because he plays first, we can put his bat in the lineup everyday, thus increasing his value because if he was a catcher, his value would be lower. I wish that the people on this site would realize that salty's d at first is not all that worse than thorman's, and because he is playing first, or whenever the braves decide to make him the everyday first baseman, the braves having mccann and salty in the lineup is a lot better than salty/thorman or thorman/mccann. Why can people not understand that moving salty from catcher gives us an upgrade in offense everyday instead just once every five games, and that him not playing catcher, where we have a better option, in no way lowers his value to us or any other team because he still is making an everyday offensive contribution, the strength of his game? Please, some of you, start thinking before you post.

[ArodSucksAtLife]

What is the ML avg for a 1b?
What is the ML avg for a C?

What is the PECOTA projection for Salty?

Salty for Santana and Mauer!!!!!

[bravesbeast]

ArodSucks at life,

What you are not understanding is that ML averages have absolutely nothing to do when it comes to the braves situation, because it is the worst in majors. I believe at the end of July we were hitting .202, with ll homers and 28 rbis from that postion during the first month of the season. By starting salty at first, that gives us a termendous upgrade in terms offense compared to the production the braves have got at first base, and his defense would not be just that much worse than thorman's. The only value salty has right now is his value to the braves's offense, for the simple fact that we need production out of first base if we are going to continue to contend, and his by far the best producer we have at that position. And just because he plays first for us, that in no way means he is going to forget how to play catcher. He is 22 years old, i think he can handle a return to catcher if we do trade him. The has absolutely no relevance because you are ignoring all logic when concerning the situation. Get a clue bud.

[bravesbeast]

make those numbers being at the beginning of July, and through the first three months of the season

[bravesbeast]

Again, I want to emphasize the point you are trying to make has no relevance concerning this situation. And again I say, attempt to think before posting. It makes a world of difference.