The First Baseman Market Revisited

Next up in our second pass through the Trade Market, first basemen.

• Mark Teixeira, Braves.  As Mark Bowman wrote yesterday, the Braves may need a few weeks to decide whether to sell or buy.  Teixeira is hitting .275/.381/.492.  Frank Wren might have a hard time finding a match for Teixeira.  He’s an upgrade on guys like Casey Kotchman, Carlos Delgado, and Chad Tracy, but is the improvement worth it?
• Rich Aurilia, Giants.  Aurilia could make sense as a platoon partner for Tracy in Arizona, if Brian Sabean doesn’t mind helping a team in his division.  Aurilia hit well in May and June.
• Dmitri Young, Nationals.  He’s hitting well, but keep in mind Jim Bowden couldn’t find a deal he liked last year when Young had a .900 OPS and wasn’t a contractual burden.
• Lyle Overbay, Blue Jays.  Overbay is owed $14MM over 2009-10, and he is slugging under .400.  Not a hot commodity.
• Kevin Millar, Orioles.  The O’s are 7.5 games out of the wild card, so their strategy is unknown.  Millar’s value seems to be mostly intangible.
• Adam LaRoche, Pirates.  Like clockwork, LaRoche is having a big July after a slow start.  Selling high on him might make sense, but the Bucs haven’t given any indication of that.  Extension talks fizzled in April.
• Frank Catalanotto, Rangers.  Useful player who can also handle left field.  However, he carries a commitment of $4MM for ’09 plus a $2MM buyout on his ’10 option.
• Aaron Boone, Nationals.  Respectable role player, but the Nationals might prefer to keep him around as a clubhouse leader.
• Richie Sexson, Mariners.  Looking for a silver lining…he’s having a nice year against lefties?
• Wes Helms, Marlins.  One positive: the Phillies are paying his salary.
• Kendry Morales, Angels.  The 25 year-old was hitting .324/.365/.505 in Triple A until hitting the DL with an oblique strain.
• Chris Duncan, Cardinals.  He is fairly expendable, though he’s had a rough year and has never hit lefties.
• Casey Blake, Indians.  He’s a versatile player with a decent chance of being moved.  Anthony Castrovince makes a good point – the Tribe might want to re-sign him to play third base next year.
• Matt Stairs, Blue Jays.  Last year’s power and respectable work against southpaws has disappeared.
• Scott Hatteberg.  He seems to have disappeared since being designated for assignment by the Reds in May.