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Trades Of The Decade: Teixeira To The Braves
Once the Braves acquired Mark Teixeira before the 2007 trade deadline, they started thinking of themselves as a World Series contender. They were 4.5 games behind the division-leading Mets and 3.0 games behind the Phillies, but there was still a sense of excitement when GM John Schuerholz made the move.
"We've got the team to win the World Series," Brian McCann told the AP. Tim Hudson and Edgar Renteria echoed McCann's comments, and why not? The Mets added Luis Castillo and the Phillies added Kyle Lohse, but the Braves acquired a premier bat who was still a year and a half away from free agency.
Scott Thorman had been playing first regularly before the trade, so Teixeira was an immense upgrade. To acquire Tex and and Ron Mahay, the Braves sent Beau Jones, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the Rangers.
The Braves gave up their top three prospects in the deal - Saltalamacchia, Andrus and Harrison - so Baseball America called it a a "good haul" for GM Jon Daniels.
Saltalamacchia had potential to "blossom into one of the game's best catchers," but he was expendable to the Braves, who had Brian McCann. They could also afford to deal Andrus because of shortstops Edgar Renteria, Brent Lillibridge and Yunel Escobar.
Saltalamacchia had already arrived in the big leagues at the time of the trade, but Andrus was just 18. Baseball America considered him a "classic projection prospect" because no one was sure he would hit enough to become a major league regular. He was still raw, but Daniels said he had to obtain more than draft choices for his first baseman.
"We said we were not going to allow ourselves to run the course on [Teixeira's contract] and not have anything to show for it," Daniels told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Braves were willing to give so much up because Teixeira was one of the best all-around first basemen in baseball. They finished 84-78, 5.0 games behind the Phillies, but it was in spite of their big acquisition; Teixeira hit .317/.404/.615 down the stretch, with 17 homers.
They traded him to the Angels a year later for Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek. Not much, in comparison to the bounty they gave up for Teixeira. Kotchman was later flipped to Boston for Adam LaRoche, who is now a free agent. One other remnant of the trade is lefty Brett DeVall, who the Braves drafted last year with a supplemental pick for the loss of Mahay.
- Harrison has been hittable in parts of two major league seasons and he missed the second half of this season with an injury, but he's 24 and just two seasons removed from top prospect status.
- Andrus hit .267/.329/.373 as a rookie this year and was one of the best defensive shortstops around, according to UZR. He just turned 21 in August.
- Saltalamacchia hit .233/.290/.371 this year before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. He hasn't come close to actualizing the 25 homer potential he had a couple years ago and questions about his defense linger.
- Feliz, 21, astounded in his major league debut this summer, striking out 39 and walking just eight in 31 innings. The incredible part? He allowed a mere 13 hits. He's not likely to sustain those rates, of course but he is a top prospect and could crack the team's rotation as soon as next year.
- Jones has yet to play in the majors, but the 23-year-old struck out 11 batters per nine innings in the Rangers' system this year.
That's better than a "good haul." Without the Teixeira trade, the Rangers wouldn't have such a highly-regarded farm system and might not be as well-positioned to contend annually. Before the trade, the Rangers offered Teixeira $140MM to sign long-term. Looking back, they must be thrilled he didn't accept.
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Great trade for the Rangers. This is what the Blue Jays and Padres are dreaming for if they end up dealing Halladay or A-Gonz. It really remade the Rangers as a franchise and puts them in a great position to contend for years with good, cost-controlled players.
Posted by: Pat Metzger | November 15, 2009 at 10:52 PM
What a haul for the Rangers. Braves got pooped on.
Posted by: Chris | November 15, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Well, Obviously hindsight is 20-20, but, as a Braves fan I wont blame Shuerholz. He tried to give us a world series and like the piece says it wasnt Tex's fault. The Braves still have one of the best farms in the game, and it would definately not look this bad if Tex was still in Atlanta, which from what I know the Braves did offer a respectable contract (Although I'm sure not as good as one as the Yankees did). Would I like to have Feliz and, Harrison, and Jones back in the system, sure, but we will be ok even after this and I believe that says a bunch about the Braves organization.
Posted by: james | November 15, 2009 at 10:55 PM
The only player I regret trading in that deal is Feliz, the others we have just as good or better players playing in their positions at the moment.
Posted by: Windu | November 15, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Really this isnt as bad of a trade as it sounds. Really the only two pieces they may regret are Andrus and Feliz. Although I believe Feliz may be the only piece that they may really regret parting with but it definitely hasnt hurt there farm system. I dont think the Jays will get anything close to the package they could have had last year.
Posted by: camronj427 | November 15, 2009 at 11:12 PM
It's scary to think that, following the trade, the Braves can say that they didn't lose much talent since all those positions were filled, and Hanson has shown he's got what it takes, so he kinda makes up for Feliz, who was INCREDIBLY raw at the time.
Kudos to a great farm system.
Posted by: BaseballFan0707 | November 15, 2009 at 11:13 PM
yeah, good haul for the Rangers, but the Braves didnt give up much they need except for Feliz who could close for them. But if they had no intention of going all out and keeping tex, why did they give up SO much?
Posted by: johan is GOD | November 15, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Cam, yeah I'm pretty sure they're going to regret giving up Elvis if they aren't already.
Posted by: fitz | November 15, 2009 at 11:17 PM
I completely disagree with those of you who are saying that this trade is not as bad as it sounds because we currently have young players, such as McCann and Yunel, who play the positions of the players we traded away. The true value of the players we traded away is the depth they provided our team, and with that depth, comes flexibility and more options that give you a better chance to succeed long term. With depth, you have the oppotunity to trade prospects for proven commodities, and while that is what we did in this instance, we should have waited and gotten 2 or 3 pieces we could have controlled for more years. Obviously, at the time, it was an exciting move. However, it should have been realized that as good a player as tex was and is, one player can not make up for a team who has 3 or four needs to be a title contender. That is what these prospects could have been better served for, giving us good solutions for the multilpe weaknesses we had instead of giving us a great soltion for only one weakness. It sucked that this happened, but you live and you learn.
Posted by: bravesbeast | November 15, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Man, can we just forget this trade happened?
Posted by: bbxxj | November 15, 2009 at 11:20 PM
This trade is a joke compared to the Bedard one
Posted by: jc | November 15, 2009 at 11:25 PM
THIS is why I don't want the Yankees to empty the farm in a trade for a guy like Felix or Halladay. I dont care who we get in return I shudder to envision guys like Hughes, Montero, Joba and Jackson on other ball clubs especially if they all pan out like I think they could.
Posted by: Mickey Mac | November 15, 2009 at 11:31 PM
What a completely stupid trade by the Braves. I hated it at the time and I hate it more now. I hope they learned their lesson about trading away the farm for a short term rental player (especially an arrogant Boras rental player).
Posted by: BravesAllTheWay | November 15, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Yanks don't have to worry about this situation. Any star they trade for they can afford to extend. If ATL had been able to sign Teix longterm it wouldn't be such a black eye. But Teix signed longterm with... the yankees.
Posted by: l0stnumber | November 15, 2009 at 11:38 PM
I dont care if we could sign the player long term. My point was that I would rather have Monty, Hughes, Jackson and Joba five years from now then Felix anyway, no matter how long I had him for.
Posted by: Mickey Mac | November 15, 2009 at 11:41 PM
That what a farm system is for to provide depth when needed and use as trade bait. At the time of the trade I thought it was great. They were tryin to win a championship. I think the braves have enough pitching depth that Feliz is really not that big of a blow. The jury is still out on andrus we wont know how good he is for another two seasons. You cant fault the braves for being aggressive they have a deep farm system and are fine.
Posted by: camronj427 | November 15, 2009 at 11:42 PM
You want them if they pan out. Prospects are no guarantee of course. The "prize" of this very deal (Salty) may end up the least valuable piece acquired.
Posted by: l0stnumber | November 15, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Got nothing here. They traded or let go of all of the pieces that they got in both of the Tex deals. sad. The Rangers robbed the Braves here.
Posted by: Mrmet101 | November 15, 2009 at 11:55 PM
I think this trade is worth it for the Braves if only for this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDHjGrbXiD4
Posted by: ericbrat20 | November 15, 2009 at 11:57 PM
The best thing we got outnod this trade was Brett DeVall who has looked pretty darn good as a LHP starting prospect so far and the ability to see just how good LaRoche could be back hitting for his old team.
Posted by: bbxxj | November 16, 2009 at 12:08 AM
I got no complaints on the trade.. We were trying to win and make an impact.. We also knew that he could help us win the following season, and we were never really in it hence the trade to the Angels.
It's the issue that the braves face all the time.. So much talent in the farm and they are usually in the posistion of a established all-star or franchise guy. Betemit, Marte, Salty, Dye.. etc..
Posted by: Murphy belongs in the Hall | November 16, 2009 at 12:28 AM
This is the problem the Red Sox face in trading for Adrian Gonzalez. On the one hand the Pads would benefit greatly from, {just for example}, Bard, Bowden, Doubrant, Reddick. Bard would become the premier closer in the NL, Bowden would be a solid #2-3 at Petco, Reddick's speed, glove, arm, line drive power would make him a beast at Petco. Doubrant would be the prize. Even as AGon makes the Sox one of the best in MLB, this trade would cost a healthy Mike Lowell's .290/20/90, weaken the pen and rotation depth, and mortgage the future OF & rotation. The eternal question: with a full year of a healthy Papi, Lowell, Lowrie, v=Mart, Buchholz,Matsuzaka, Bard, Wagner, is AGon really necessary? Eternal answer, yes & no.
Posted by: gerald troy | November 16, 2009 at 12:35 AM
For the Red Sox to compete with the Yankees they are going to have to add a big bat and a starter. So if it comes down to bard, Bowden or even Reddick they have to jump at that offer. The only thing that would make me reluctant would be bucholtz. To lose that young one two punch of him a lester would be devastating. With any A-gon trade you would also need to move lowell.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | November 16, 2009 at 12:49 AM
the brewers gave up a ton to get CC for half a season, and he brought us to the playoffs, and we were happy with that. teams win games for doing stuff like this.
Posted by: brewsers | November 16, 2009 at 04:22 AM
This trade is completely overblown. Yeah, The Rangers got a good deal, but other than Feliz, the Braves didn't lose much of anything.
Neither Harrison, Salty, nor Andrus had a place on this team and was going to end up being traded anyway, even if the Tex deal didn't happen.
That's the only drawback I see from the trade, that the players could've been used as trade pieces down the road. But as for actually helping the team win? No. I'll take McCann, Hanson, and Escobar, thank you.
Posted by: homeofdabrave | November 16, 2009 at 04:25 AM
Exhibit A on why you don't unload your farm for one player. No matter how you look at it, the Braves gave up 4 players for basically nothing. They gambled on a 1-2 year window and lost. And I don't buy the argument that these players wouldn't be useful to the Braves. Feliz is a stud, Harrison showed some flashes last year and lefties often take longer to develop, and you'd think the Braves could make room for Andrus in their infield. At the very least, I'm sure they'd love to be able to dangle Andrus as trade bait for that corner OF'er they've been looking for.
Posted by: crunchy1 | November 16, 2009 at 07:25 AM
Sounds like a pretty good cautionary tale. Not god to give up that many top prospects for one guy, unless you're sure its going to put you over the top as a WS favorite or at least going to hang on to the palyer for a few years. Unless the Cardinals re sign Holliday, in a few years, that trade could be looking worse than this one.
Posted by: The Year? | November 16, 2009 at 07:26 AM
can't tell your a Cubs fan
Posted by: stlcards16 | November 16, 2009 at 08:06 AM
"This trade is completely overblown. Yeah, The Rangers got a good deal, but other than Feliz, the Braves didn't lose much of anything."
"That's the only drawback I see from the trade, that the players could've been used as trade pieces down the road. But as for actually helping the team win? No. I'll take McCann, Hanson, and Escobar, thank you."
You used your own logic against yourself. If Tex signs long term that it's not as bad as it looks, but for a one year rental its a lot and because you lost those assets you can't say what you could have gotten for them in seperate deals to fill multiple holes. I don't blame the idea of going out to get one guy and liked the aggressiveness but don't act like you didn't give up alot when you did.
Posted by: BabyJesus | November 16, 2009 at 08:10 AM
If it as for Sabean he would be saying "e are not going to give our top prospect for a half of a year player" or if he had traded for him "those prospects COULD have been the next Jeter but right now e are getting someone who we are sure is going to hit, we do not kno if our prospect is going to be good" He alawys says this and Giants fan will agree....
Posted by: Black-And-Proud | November 16, 2009 at 08:58 AM
I once foolis applauded this deal, but as time went on you could see that the Braves could have had freaking awesome team by now at a lower cost. Imagine if the Braves never made this trade - they would have Andrus at SS, Chipper at 1st, Escobar at 3B or Prado, and then Feliz and Hanson as their pitchers. Harrison and Salty could still be tradeable parts to fill in any voids. Oh man.
Posted by: UncleMo | November 16, 2009 at 09:01 AM
Andrus could still turn into Rey Ordonez, we just don't know yet how he's going to progress since he's still so young. And as we all know there are a lot of time that young pitchers come up and seem to dominate in their first chance at the majors and then turn back into regular pitchers. Feliz is obviously good but as with Andrus it's too soon to say what he'll end up being. I admit that it looks good for the Rangers now and they obviously did well but it's too early to call this one a huge win.
Posted by: pageian | November 16, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Braves fans are funny. Saying they had no where to play these guys made it a fair trade is like me saying that the Red Sox trading Jeff Bagwell to Houston was fine cuz we had Wade Boggs blocking him. You guys got royally fleeced and living in denial ain't gonna make it go away!
Posted by: RED SOX DYNASTY! | November 16, 2009 at 10:06 AM
"Sounds like a pretty good cautionary tale. Not god to give up that many top prospects for one guy, unless you're sure its going to put you over the top as a WS favorite or at least going to hang on to the palyer for a few years. Unless the Cardinals re sign Holliday, in a few years, that trade could be looking worse than this one."
That could be the key statement. You can afford to give up a few prospects and replace them with the draft comp. But it has to make a difference. For LA, CO, the RS, and a few other teams, the addition of a key player could make the difference between out early and a long run. No matter how good the prospects Phillies gave up become, they got to the WS, and will likely finish 1st again in 2010. That's a pretty good return. Kaz threatened to make a difference. VMart threatened to make a difference. I'm not sure Tex even made them a favorite to make the POs.
And it's exacerbated by the fact that the return on the sale didn't work out well either.
Posted by: Joey B | November 16, 2009 at 10:06 AM
I don't know why you braves fans are talking down Andrus. Andrus showed flashes of Ozzie Smith on defense and didn't do too bad offensivly in his rookie season. Andrus will be one of the best shortstops in the game for years to come, while Teixiera continues to be faithful his whole career(i gagged a little when Teixiera said this in the world series celebration.) Mark Teixiera you are scum.
Posted by: Rangerfan | November 16, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Damn this stupid trade. As a Braves fan I was happy when Teixeira came aboard (& even went to that first Braves game in which he played). Salty & Elvis were really the only players in the deal I was aware of & Salty was expendable. I agree, however, with whomever said this trade is nothing compared to the Bedard deal. Peanuts. Salty & Harrison were the main pieces to this trade & they're both flops. But for the Rangers, Andrus & Perez, alone, should be worth it.
Posted by: drphonic7 | November 16, 2009 at 10:47 AM
The Braves did what they needed to do to win that season. They traded pieces that were appealing to Texas, but were not beneficial to Atlanta putting a winning ball team on the field at that time. It looks like a bust for the Braves, but it did what the owners and GM wanted...pull in a big name and make a push for the playoffs, which sells tickets & merchandise... which creates revenue. Now-a-days teams will sacrifice whatever it takes to put fans in the seats & make them happy. What percentage of Braves fans even knew who these kids were?
Sure Andrus and Feliz have shown great promise in their early careers, but when you have the farm system knowhow of the Braves its only a matter of time before the next "Future Star" is working his way up the ladder.
Posted by: hambone | November 16, 2009 at 12:08 PM
If you and try and defend this trade for the Braves and say it wasn't that bad...you are an idiot. We never win anything, so at least give us this. This trade is about the only reason we have somewhat of a chance of competing in the AL West for the next decade.
Posted by: txrangers22 | November 16, 2009 at 05:34 PM
I think the Bedard trade was much much worse.
Posted by: QueensKing | November 16, 2009 at 06:09 PM
It's kind of silly to grade a trade a year later and say that one team was stupid. Trades must be graded when they are made, and this trade, at the time, was greeted with cautious optimism by most Braves fans.
On the one hand, Teixeira made us an instant World Series possibility.
On the other hand, we KNEW we were giving up some serious prospects.
I was very uneasy about it at the time, but I applauded the GM for going for it when we were close. True, it didn't work out, but if you never take a chance then you pretty much always lose.
But man, I sure would love to see a rotation far into the future headed by Hanson, Feliz, and Jurrjens, with defense up the middle from Escobar at SS and Andrus at 2B (or vice-versa).
Posted by: parrothead8 | November 16, 2009 at 06:15 PM
"It's kind of silly to grade a trade a year later and say that one team was stupid. Trades must be graded when they are made, and this trade, at the time, was greeted with cautious optimism by most Braves fans."
I can't speak to the Braves minor league system, but when the RS traded Hanley for Beckett, I was thrilled. The fact that Hanley developed into an elite player doesn't bother me at all. A couple of the players we gave up for VMart might develop into good players, but we got a good player and an important fit for 1.33 years, plus likely two draft picks. If one of the players develops into a HOF, does that mean it wasn't the right move at the time?
Posted by: Joey B | November 17, 2009 at 08:19 AM