Mark Teixeira Rumors: Monday

I really can't see Arizona givin g up Conor for a 2 month rental.

While I'd be ecstatic if the Braves got Conor Jackson straight up for Teixeira (hell I'd even throw in Ohman) I can't see it happening. Obviously Tracy plus a good prospect (maybe a marginal throw in if we're lucky) makes a ton of sense for both teams.

SoCalBrave,

As much as I'd love it, I just can't see that happening. Plus the Braves need someone to fill in at 1B and the Dbacks have little use for Tracy if they get Tex, so that part just makes to much sense. I'm guessing the Braves are holding out for Scherzer, but they'll end up settling for Parker and a marginal prospect as a throw in.

They wouldn't be giving up Conor for a two month rental, they'd be giving up Conor for a two month rental and two first round picks which should net you more than Conor... Also Conor Jackson is without a place to play next season... Byrnes, Young, and Upton in the outfield with Reynolds and Tracy at the corners. The fact is that you need more left than right pop at the plate with Young, Upton, Reynolds, and Byrnes all being righty, Drew is left, but a table setter, so without Tracy you are far too right-handed in the middle of the order, which is never a good thing...

Nixa37,

Settling for Parker? I would be ecstatic to get Parker, he was actually rated above Scherzer in Baseball America. Either one would be great along with a Chad Tracy, and I think it separates the D'Backs from the rest of the division.

I know my proposed deal would never happen, but its fun to dream :)

1. Carlos Gonzalez, of
2. Jarrod Parker, rhp
3. Brett Anderson, lhp
4. Max Scherzer, rhp
5. Gerardo Parra, of
6. Emilio Bonifacio, 2b/ss
7. Aaron Cunningham, of
8. Chris Carter, 1b
9. Reynaldo Navarro, ss
10. Barry Enright, rhp

Whoops. How many people are still left on that list, D'Backs. This makes me doubt whether or not a deal can take place. It's either the best they have left or scrubs.

Parker may have been rated higher, but he's a long way off and all about projection. I'd rather take the guy who is already showing he can perform in the bigs. I also get the feeling that the Dbacks would rather move Parker than Scherzer. With all the high upside pitchers the Braves already have in A and AA, I'd rather get the sure thing.

That's a video game trade, not a real life trade. It may be interesting but there's no chance anything like that goes down.

You braves fans are DREAMING! None of Scerzer, Jackson, or Parker are going to be in a trade for a rental. I dont care who it is. You also have to consider that Tracy actually has a pretty darn good OPS right now, that is close to Texieras anyway. Trading any of those guys makes absolutely no sense for AZ. none. Jackson is actually hitting BETTER than Tex, and has 3 more years of cheap control. Think people.. think...

Teixeira/Will Ohman/Kelly Johnson for Jackson (or Tracy)/Scherzer

Johnson can fill in out in LF for the rest of this year and then the DBacks have their 2B when Hudson walks at the end of the year, which would open up money to possibly re-sign Teixeira. It makes Johnson the actual centerpiece of a deal but opens up the door for AZ to throw some money around and be a great offensive team in addition to their great pitching.

Futurebacks.com is saying the deal is done pending league approval-Scherzer/Jackson for Tex/Ohman-Tex extended...

Haven't seen anything on this yet. Sorry, no link.

as long as the sox or angels don't get tex, its fine with me.

go rangers / rays!

lulz @ 5:56

I like that - futurebacks.com is saying blah, blah, blah.. but no link...

lol... another load of garbage...

gudjy1,

Tracy isn't even in the same league as Tex as far as OPS goes, as he leads .896 to .836. That doesn't even capture how big of a difference there is as Tex is hurt by Turner Field. Tex actually has a higher OPS+ than Conor Jackson despite a lower OPS. As far as OPS+ goes, Tracy is at 112 (not at all impressive for a 1B) compared to 137 for Tex.

As far as what else would need to come Atlanta's way with Tracy, it has to be Parker or Scherzer. The dbacks have very little else of value in their system, and the Braves have to get something pretty good to make up for the two compensatory picks they lose. Those are especially valuable to a team like Atlanta with their history of drafting and player development. If you really think the deal is going to be Tracy plus a throw in, you're just as delusional as the Braves fans who think we're getting Jackson and Parker/Scherzer.

You have to be kidding me if Chad Tracy is going to be the centerpiece of a Tex trade?

Is this the same Chad Tracy that is on the D-Backs Major League roster and is a free agent himself next season?

Tracy has a team option. But whats wrong with a rental? Tex is a rental too? You have to be kidding if you think AZ is going to give up top prospects for a rental.

"""Tracy isn't even in the same league as Tex as far as OPS goes, as he leads .896 to .836. That doesn't even capture how big of a difference there is as Tex is hurt by Turner Field. Tex actually has a higher OPS+ than Conor Jackson despite a lower OPS. As far as OPS+ goes, Tracy is at 112 (not at all impressive for a 1B) compared to 137 for Tex.

As far as what else would need to come Atlanta's way with Tracy, it has to be Parker or Scherzer. The dbacks have very little else of value in their system, and the Braves have to get something pretty good to make up for the two compensatory picks they lose. Those are especially valuable to a team like Atlanta with their history of drafting and player development. If you really think the deal is going to be Tracy plus a throw in, you're just as delusional as the Braves fans who think we're getting Jackson and Parker/Scherzer.""""

My point is not that Tracy is as good as Tex - because he isnt. its just htat the upgrade isnt that great.

THAN consider that Tracy has two more years of reasonably priced control and is still 28 and can improve.

Why should AZ give that up for 2 months of 60 points of OPS. For the draft picks? Picks 45 and 60 (approx).

AND you want to throw in Scherzer? or last years 8 pick.

Thats crazy... sorry...

I don't know if you D-backs fans have ever experienced a deadline deal or what. The point is you have to give up something if you actually want to make a trade. The point is that Mark apparently is that much of an upgrade or else they would not be considering this. The deal is either going to be Tracy/Conor and Max/Parker. Or there will be no deal at all.

gudjy1,

You obviously don't get the point of OPS+. Considering that Tex has a higher OPS+ than Conor Jackson, I think you would him to have something around a .925 OPS if he were playing in the same parks the dbacks did. Secondly, you obviously don't understand compensatory picks. The only way Tex doesn't return a 1st rounder is if a team with a top 15 pick signs him, and the only team there with any interest is the O's. Even if that did happen, Tex would return one of the top few sandwich picks (31-35) as those are determined by Elias' player rankings and Tex will be near the top of the list. But by all means, good luck landing any impact bat with Tracy and a marginal prospect.

(Just wondering, anyone want to get on an anti-OPS train with me? It overvalues a single, basically making it 2 times a walk. Singles are better, but its more of a 1.5:1 ratio than 2:1.)

Nixa - you obv dont understand much about years of control.

I already said Tex woudl be an upgrade. But its a marginal one. 60 points of OPS is approximately 6 singles extra over the amount of ABs (200 or so?) that tex would get in an AZ uniform. Right?

It isnt enough to make it worth years and years of control.

Im not saying that Tex is a bad player - im saying 2 months of him (and then some picks around the 45 spot) isnt worth it to AZ. ATL shoudl keep their picks, and see what they turn out to be in 3 years. They could be way worse than tracy. WAY worse.

Tex OPS+ is 137
Jacksons is 135

Huge difference there (rolling eyes)

What are thier ages and cost by the way? (Shaking head)

All right, you're crazy. Tex for 2 months isn't enough to replace a still improving Jackson for 3 years (and a decent chance to sign him for even longer). Tracy and a high-percentage pitching prospect sounds much more reasonable.

I dont even like the idea of trading Tracy for a rental. Tracys OPS+ in July is 138. I do agree that is a stretch for him. But he will be much cheaper than Tex, can be platooned with Clark, and is controlled for years.

I dont like this deal one bit.

I hope ATL keeps Tex.

zephyr8,

What you said. If the D-Backs think obtaining Tex signficantly boosts their chances of winning it all this year, they'll give up more for him now than they would in an off-season trade.

"I dont even like the idea of trading Tracy for a rental. Tracys OPS+ in July is 138. I do agree that is a stretch for him. But he will be much cheaper than Tex, can be platooned with Clark, and is controlled for years.

I dont like this deal one bit.

I hope ATL keeps Tex."

Someone needs to check the definition for tOPS+. Even if that number meant what you thought it did, you'd still be valuing a 19 game sample size over the 563 game sample size we already have for his career.

Nixa - you arent saying Jackson should be in the deal - but other Braves fans are - like the ones above.

The picks arent set yet. It depends what AZs record would be - right? They have changed those rules again though i think.

And AGAIN - values for different teams mean different things. Tracys value as a cost controlled player means much more to AZ than to the Yankees or ATL. AZ has to keep their payroll at about 70M, and has a bunch of contracts coming up (haren, webb). Keeping cost certainty is a priority.

IM not sure i care what TOPS+ is. Im not sure how 60 OPS points cant be turned into how many extra hits - but im sure you will explain it to me.

If you have watched tracy, he struggled with the knee last year, and was without a spring training and preseason this year. Like i said - 138 isnt fair, but 100 isnt either. I dont think 120 OPS+ is out of the question at all - esp if he is platooned v lhers.

No, compensatory picks are determined by who signs the FA, it has nothing to do with the team that loses him. As long as the team signing Tex doesn't have a top 15 pick, the team that loses him gets that teams 1st rounder along with a supplemental 1st rounder.

The value of Tracy to the dbacks is meaningless in whether or not the deal you're suggesting will be accepted by the Braves. Besides, if you are a cash strapped team, you're better off not paying 4.5 million to a bench/platoon player. You guys have to play Byrnes next year, which means Jackson is back at 1st and there really isn't much room for Tracy.

tOPS+ is the number you are quoting for Tracy's July OPS+, at least that's what I'm assuming. If you have a link to monthly splits of OPS+ I'd love to see them, but I'm pretty sure you are just misinterpreting a monthly split on baseball-reference that doesn't mean what you think it means.

Nixa37,

Me and SteveBuechele will gladly go watch Saltalamacchia and his .673 OPS. And next year, when he is still 23 years old, we will watch Saltalamacchia and his .800 OPS. And the year after, when he is still 24 years old, we will watch him hit his way into the All-Star game.

And if you think Feliz is nothing but a reliever, you need to watch him pitch. Sorry Atlanta, but you got robbed.

ha... if you think the braves got robbed... ask any baseball analyst.. the only player ya'll have in that deal that will be solid is Feliz... harrison was over valued... salty is over rated... and andrus is just for defense... neither team succeeded in that deal... braves didn't get to the playoffs, and the rangers now have one real prospect from it

skyharbor215,

For the production that the Braves got out of both Mahay and Tex the trade actually wasn't a bad one on the Braves side. What the team did was the let down but Tex and Mahay were both worth giving up what the Braves gave up.

The Braves also got Brett DeVall with the Comp. pick for Mahay so overall I don't see it as a bad trade.

Harrison was never a favorite of mine as I always felt he would be a 4th or 5th starter.

Beau had some decent upside but is still a while away.

I agree with you that Salty will be a very good player and I am still rooting for him to succeed.

Andrus was at the time blocked by both Yunel and Lillibridge but I think a lot of Braves fans liked his potential. I don't know what the Rangers will do with him as Young is a really good player.

Feliz at the time was pure upside pitcher that had an amazing fastball, if he continues to develop his secondary stuff he could be really good but I think he would be a better personally.

While the trade hasn't worked out the Braves hoped for as a team but from what they got from the guy people they got it was still worth it to me.

A lot of people don't seem to understand that the d-backs will not trade Jackson at all, especially for a rental, Tracy will be the main piece should a trade happen, one thing some people are overlooking is the fact that Owings is starting for the d-backs tonight in spite of the fact that Petit has had some fantastic starts as of late. In my opinion either Petit is part of a trade, or they might be trying to showcase Georgian native Owings as part of a deal. Also many people believe the d-backs won't try to resign Tex but it seems like the d-backs have every intention of trying to bid for him along with the rest of the league, now if they win the sweepstakes or not would have to be seen. Once it's all said and done Tracy could not have picked a better time to be smacking the cover off the ball it's only helped his trade value.

Braves fans,

What is wrong with thinking that guys like Salty and Andrus are still good players and that still have potential. It isn't a horrible thing to admit that the Braves gave up talent in the trade, I mean not every trade the Braves make can be an Edgar Renteria for Jair and Gorkys.

so before you call me an idiot.. this doesn't come from me... it comes from analysts.. that get paid to do that job

I admit my post was tongue in cheek, meant partially to get a rise out of some fellow Braves fans.

I have seen Salty's minor league numbers. I have also seen his age and his swing. He has the skillset to be a good Major Leaguer, make no mistake about it.

We are shopping Saltalamacchia along with the other three guys to get pitching. We are only doing that because JD has geniusly acquired a very deep pool of catching, and we basically own the market on that right now. Look for deals between Texas and Boston/NYY/Cinci this off-season, if not before the deadline.

jwn0303: If you think the only guy you lost was Feliz, you are very mistaken. I'm not saying it was a bad trade, I'm just saying we got more than Teixeira was worth. So I think we will go ahead and not "get over ourselves" because we are one of the most humble and friendly fanbases that exists in sports. We have won one playoff game ever for crying out loud.

If that Angels deal really is on the table, you need to go get Saunders. Not to would be stupid.

lol i love how the second a prospect gets traded away fans of that team start going on and on about how all of a sudden, he'll never be any good.

We overpayed for Tex because it was a deadline deal and we also got Mahay (and the pick that came with him). Salty will be a solid catcher, as long as he can stick there, which has always been a question with him. I don't think he has the bat to play 1B in the league. He may have a pretty swing or whatever, but a pretty swing alone won't make him a great player, and right now he's got a long way to go.

Andrus, at least in my mind, is overhyped just because he is so young. I just don't see him projecting to be much more than an above average bat at SS with a good glove, which is the same projection that Escobar, who was nowhere near as highly touted, has.

jwn0303,

Salty has shown the potential to be a good player. He may not be hitting that way right now but that doesn't take away from his overall potential. I liked McCann over Salty for the past 2 years but I still thought Salty was going to be a good player for someone.

Andrus was mainly a defensive player last year but once he left the horrible hitters park that is Myrtle Beach his stats went up. Andrus is still just 19 at Double A and is putting up pretty good numbers that if he were still in the Braves system most would be swooning over him. I can understand your doubts but both players still have the talent to be very good major league players.

Andrus could be just a defensive player. Or he could be the second coming of Jose Reyes. That's why they are called prospects -- we just aren't sure.

If Feliz turns out to be an ace, the Braves got robbed. Just like you robbed the Tigers when you got John Smoltz, even though the deal made sense at the time from Detroit's standpoint.

what's this supposed Angels deal that's on the table? I can tell you right now, if it includes an MLB starting pitcher, it's false. The Halos WOULD NOT give up starting pitching, let alone their top win guy.

Nixa37 -
You've got to trust the scouts, obviously, but I don't know what they see. He hits for a good average, high power, high OBP and has an above average glove.
There's a lot to like there.

The D'Backs wont trade Jackson, or atleast they shouldnt. He is younger, cheaper, and similarly productive. Plus, since he has been their best offensive player this year, the production added would be marginal, if any. Besides, Tex is wildly overated.

The facts are they can't resign Tex, he's too expensive, thats why Atlanta wants to unload him. Not to mention both NY teams have an opening at first next year. Just to go ahead and drive the price str8 up. I agree the d-backs shouldn't give up Jackson, he has way too much upside. But as a Braves fan I can tell you theres no one else we need left in the d-backs cubbard.

As a braves fan, we got what we wanted and had our pitching stayed healthy (Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, Soriano, Moylan, now Hudson, not to mention Bennett and Acosta) The trade would look great right now. As is, none of the players we gave up would be making a difference in the bigs this year and probably not next year.

D-backs fans, If you don't like the Jackson deal we'd be happy to take Reynolds...

I understand the need to give to get, which is why I don't think the DBacks match up as well as the media seems to think.

The DBacks can't extend Tex and can't afford to lose players like Reynolds or Jackson. It doesn't appear that Tracy is all that interesting to the Braves, or at least their fans.

I think this deal will go down for something like Tracy & Owings or it won't go down and it doesn't sound like the fans of either team care too much if it doesn't go down.

Nixa

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=tracych01&year=2008

Halfway down is the monthly split.

I agree with Tmar.

""""The value of Tracy to the dbacks is meaningless in whether or not the deal you're suggesting will be accepted by the Braves. Besides, if you are a cash strapped team, you're better off not paying 4.5 million to a bench/platoon player. You guys have to play Byrnes next year, which means Jackson is back at 1st and there really isn't much room for Tracy.""""

I disagee that tracys value to AZ is meaningless - thats silly... yOU have to assess the value of what you are giving up, compared to what you are getting.

I do agree that tracy might not have a spot if byrnes come back - but i woudl hope that byrnes would lose out on that - not tracy. Also, if it is assumed that tracy is to be traded - i would hope they would solve the 2B issue before getting a rental.

I just dont think these teams match up AT ALL.

If the Braves are interested in Owings, hopefully they aren't watching tonights game.

Kelly Johnson should be included in the deal...that might be the only way the Dbacks give up Conor Jackson...

AMEN ENRON!

since Petit didn't start tonight for the D'Backs could he be going to ATL in trade

Petit is in now.

And you are right enron - thats what i have said - the teams dont match up.

AZ shouldnt be in the market for a rental.

No way we should give up KJ. Id rather keep Kelly and the Draft picks. We can play kelly in left next year and sign Furcal or Renteria for second.