4:50pm: Jayson Stark has the scoop – Mark Teixeira is headed to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and another player. MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer says the second player is relief prospect Stephen Marek.
Solid return for the Braves, certainly beats a couple of draft picks of unknown position. Kotchman is under team control through 2011.
3:46pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the D’Backs, Rays, and Angels vying for Tex. A first baseman is not a requirement for Atlanta, though all three teams could part with one. Heyman talked to one Angels source who considered a deal "remote."
ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Braves want pitching in return.
2:33pm: Joel Sherman sees this is as a battle between the D’Backs and Red Sox. However, the Red Sox will only jump in if they are able to move Manny Ramirez.
1:01pm: ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the Dodgers and Yankees have also flirted with the idea of acquiring Teixeira. The Braves want a big-league ready bat, preferably a first baseman, in any trade.
12:23pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Angels and D’Backs are competing for Teixeira. The Halos would like to expand the deal to include a lefty reliever like Will Ohman or Mike Gonzalez. Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana are off-limits, but Casey Kotchman and Juan Rivera can be had. Not sure why Rivera would appeal to the Braves, since he’s a free agent after the season.
8:29am: When we last left off, various sources conflicted on whether the D’Backs are the frontrunner to acquire Mark Teixeira. Let’s kick off a new thread for the likely slew of new Tex rumors today.
According to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, the Angels are once again exploring a trade for Teixeira. They are warming to the idea of adding a rental player to their first-place club. The price for Teixeira is said to be a first baseman, starter, and power-hitting outfielder. DiGiovanna also wonders if a deal could be expanded to include Will Ohman, much like last year when the Rangers added Ron Mahay.
