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Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Will Salty Callup Lead To Laird Trade?

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Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been called up, and GM Jon Daniels has no plans for him to warm the bench. Salty performed well at AAA Oklahoma, and when backup backstop Adam Melhuse broke a bone in his hand on Thursday, the call-up seemed imminent. However, incumbent Rangers catcher Gerald Laird has also been solid to start the season. Given the organization’s desire to get Saltalamacchia regular at-bats and the lackluster hitting of first baseman Ben Broussard, I think it’s likely that the defensively sub-par Salty will see at least some time at the "cold corner."

But with the Rangers off to an absolutely abysmal start–Buster Olney cites a scout today saying that the team looks "out of control"–we have to wonder when the Rangers will open up the treasure chest and share some of their backstop bounty with the rest of the league. As previously noted in this space, the team is expected to be sellers come July. In addition to Laird and Saltalamacchia, the Rangers also have three decent catching prospects. With catching talent so scarce, other GMs will likely come knocking sooner rather than later. Rumors about Laird have been flying to and fro since Texas acquired Saltalamacchia in the Mark Teixeira deal last summer, but Salty’s call-up means the clock has officially started ticking. Although Daniels said recently he wasn’t planning on trading Laird, I have a feeling he’s just playing hard to get. Some possible suitors? The Reds, the Mets, the Blue Jays, or the Red Sox.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com. She can be reached here.

Laird Likely To Stay Put

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According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers don’t plan on trading catcher Gerald Laird despite some interested parties.  In fact, Laird could catch 100+ games this year despite last year’s Jarrod Saltalamacchia acquisition.  Salty could take a smaller role with the big club or get some Triple A seasoning.  It’s easy to forget that he skipped that level. 

The Rangers prefer Laird’s strong defense and spotty offense to Salty’s subpar defense and offensive potential.  And it’s not fair to write Laird off offensively quite yet; he hit well in a half-season in ’06.  ’07 was his first year catching full-time. 

The Rangers have a third future MLB-quality backstop in Taylor Teagarden.  They’ve also got Cristian Santana and Max Ramirez in the organization, two guys who are less certain to become starting catchers in the bigs.  Interesting prospects nonetheless.  Jon Daniels has an uncommon surplus on his hands.

Rangers Rumors: DeJesus, Lamb, Millar

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Evan Grant writes for the Dallas Morning News, but he posted this column at night.  Go figure.  He’s got some new info regarding the Rangers.

  • As you know, the Rangers have had difficulty finding a long-term center fielder.  That’s the main focus of this offseason.  The team has already shown interest in Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, the top center fielders available.  Other free agents such as Andruw Jones and Mike Cameron appear to be in play as well.  Grant’s trade candidates: Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Mark Kotsay, and Carlos Beltran.  We’ve speculated on DeJesus to Atlanta in the past.  With DeJesus signed cheaply through 2011 and the market at the position robust this winter, it might make sense for Dayton Moore to wait a year to shop him aggressively.
  • Grant adds that Jon Daniels is considering some affordable options for first base.  They’ve already talked to Mike Lamb’s agent and like Kevin Millar as well.  Lamb came up through the Rangers’ system but was traded to the Yankees in ’04.  Millar is under contract for ’08 but it’s in the $3-4MM range and the Orioles should be open to a trade.  Grant says Ben Broussard could pique the Rangers’ interest if he’s non-tendered.
  • Grant concludes with five Rangers whose names will be bandied about in trade talks: Gerald Laird, Vicente Padilla, Joaquin Arias, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Nelson Cruz.  Salty’s not being shopped but Grant expects teams to ask.  He proposes some kind of bad contract swap for Padilla – Jason Giambi, Richie Sexson, or Adam Eaton are named.  I still think it’s funny the way Padilla crawled away from the brawl he started this year. 

Braves Acquire Mark Teixeira

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UPDATE: ESPN adds that one of the pitching prospects is Neftali Feliz.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the deal is finally done, pending a review of medical records.  The Braves will receive Mark Teixeira and lefty reliever Ron Mahay, while the Rangers will get Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and two pitching prospects.  Matt Harrison is said to be one of them; his MRI today came up clean.

I’ll have some analysis of the deal once we have all the details.  Kind of makes tomorrow anticlimactic, doesn’t it?

Matt Harrison Removed From Teixeira Deal

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UPDATE: Sent Bowman an email about Harrison – it was definitely supposed to be his left (pitching) shoulder.  The MLB.com article has been updated. 

22 year-old Double A southpaw Matt Harrison might be the Braves’ top pitching prospect, and he was part of the team’s offer for Mark Teixeira.  However, Harrison is having shoulder problems and has apparently been removed from the deal.  Ken Rosenthal does not indicate which shoulder, while MLB.com’s Mark Bowman repeatedly says it’s his right shoulder.  Harrison is to see a doctor on Monday.

Furthermore, one source of Bowman’s thinks Harrison is still in the Braves’ offer along with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Elvis Andrus.  Another source of Bowman’s believes the injury isn’t a dealbreaker.

Rosenthal, however, says the Braves gave Texas a list of pitchers to choose instead of Harrison, not including Jo-Jo Reyes.  Rosenthal adds that talks are fluid and it could become a 4 for 2 deal.  That might convince the Braves to part with Reyes.

Salty was the only position player not used in today’s 14-0 blowout; Brian McCann did not get relief.  That decision certainly seems related to an impending trade.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks inquired on Teixeira and were told it would take Conor Jackson, Carlos Gonzalez, and a pitching prospect.  The Dodgers have been slipping while Arizona has been playing well, and the result is a virtual tie for first place.  It would be interesting if the Diamondbacks jump in and become aggressive buyers. 

Braves Make Offer For Teixeira

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According to Ken Rosenthal’s sources, the Braves have made an offer to the Rangers for Mark Teixeira: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison, and Elvis Andrus.  That’s without any relievers coming back to Atlanta.  That’s three young players all with a chance to become above-average big league regulars.  You couldn’t really criticize Daniels for it, no matter how it turned out.

The only other major player seems to be the Angels.  The Halos recently tweaked their original offer of Casey Kotchman plus Nathan Haynes or Terry Evans.  There’s now a pitcher in the mix, apparently one of Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, or Nick Adenhart.  I’d consider this a comparable offer, especially if Adenhart was the one. 

The Dodgers aren’t out of it, but I don’t see them getting Teixeira.

Mark Teixeira Trade Update

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The Mark Teixeira talks are really heating up, with the Braves, Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, and Red Sox all involved.  Ken Rosenthal has updated this column, and Evan Grant has new info as well.

The Braves still appear to be in front.  The names going to Texas would include Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and one of Matt Harrison or Kyle Davies.  A very nice package, but to get three solid prospects the Rangers would have to pair Teixeira with a reliever.  The Braves have their eye on Eric Gagne, C.J. Wilson, and Ron Mahay, with the latter most likely.  It’s unclear whether Gagne can be traded to the Braves without his consent.

The Dodgers counter with James Loney, Andre Ethier, and a pitcher not named Clayton Kershaw. 

The Angels will give Casey Kotchman as well an outfielder like Terry Evans or Nate Haynes.  Kevin Goldstein considers Evans a prospect, Haynes not so much (he turns 27 soon).  You may remember the Angels got Evans for Jeff Weaver last year.  Rosenthal thinks the Halos will have a tougher time being a division foe, and could turn to Adam Dunn or Jermaine Dye.  There’s definitely a Dodgers rivalry element in play as well.

Grant does not mention the Red Sox or Yankees.  Rosenthal sees the Red Sox involved because of David Ortiz’s knee and Kevin Youkilis’s slump.  The Yanks appear to be showing just their obligatory interest, as they seem unlikely to offer the best package.

Mark Teixeira Update; Halos After Konerko?

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Here’s the latest on Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira as well as a new one involving Paul Konerko.

  • Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News expects Teixeira to be traded.  He seems to think that Jon Daniels can convince John Schuerholz to give up Jarrod Saltalamacchia and a pitching prospect for Teixeira.  Meanwhile, Mark Bowman of MLB.com confirms discussions are in progress and believes Salty is pretty much a necessity in the deal.  Buster Olney considers the Braves and Yankees as the only real serious suitors for Tex.  Olney’s sources make a Teixeira trade seem quite likely. 
  • Will Carroll doesn’t think the Rangers would be getting enough for Teixeira in Salty, Elvis Andrus, and a pitching prospect.
  • Grant sees the Dodgers as less likely due to the fine play of James Loney.
  • Interestingly, the Angels may have switched gears to Paul Konerko.  There’s that big, fresh name I was hoping to see.  The Angels tried hard to sign Konerko after the 2005 season.  He had been viewed as Chicago’s most stable position player entering 2008.  He has a limited no-trade clause, but Peter Yoon and Mike DiGiovanna think he would waive it to come to L.A.  The market has changed since November of 2005, and $12MM annually for Konerko seems like a bargain.  He’s locked in through 2010, and his salary would not top Vlad’s (said to be a concern of Arte Moreno when considering A-Rod).  No doubt it would take at least two of the Angels’ best young players – Casey Kotchman and Nick Adenhart?
  • A couple of ESPN baseball guys have differing viewpoints on Konerko’s availability – Buster Olney thinks he can be had, while Jayson Stark would be shocked to see him traded.  Will Carroll sides with Stark on the issue.
  • Tyler Kepner of the New York Times states something many of us have already deduced: the Yankees can’t acquire Teixeira if they insist on keeping both Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain.  And keeping that pair seems to be the plan.
  • The Boston Globe says the Red Sox are one of five or six teams in on Teixeira.  Amalie Benjamin doesn’t offer any further information though.   

Teixeira Talk Heating Up

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UPDATE: Jon Heyman of SI.com has a nice rundown of the Teixeira suitors.  His sources seem to indicate that the chances of a trade are now better than Rosenthal’s 50/50.  Good point raised by Heyman and many commenters – even if the Braves wanted to trade Escobar, the Rangers don’t really have a need for a middle infielder.

UPDATE 2: Jim Molony of MLB.com says the Red Sox are the frontrunner.  The Rangers have scouted all of their major pitching prospects.

Ken Rosenthal has the latest on Mark Teixeira, who is now 50/50 to be dealt according to one source of his.

Rosenthal describes the scene as the Braves and Angels at the forefront, with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Giants lingering.  Evan Grant adds the Dodgers to the mix.  He also suggests the Rangers package Joaquin Benoit with Teixeira to get the best possible player.  Interestingly, the Yanks might be after Adam Dunn as another first base option.  They may have to focus on Dunn, because Jon Daniels is demanding Joba Chamberlain for Teixeira.

The Braves were really trying to shake things up; they would’ve done the Jon Garland for Edgar Renteria deal in tandem with a Teixeira acquisition.  The Garland proposal has been rejected, but Teixeira is very much alive.  Rosenthal describes the Braves as unwilling to trade Yunel Escobar and reluctant to trade Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  In my opinion, Salty is the more valuable player.  To me, Escobar for Teixeira is the right move.

I recently talked to ESPN’s Keith Law about Escobar.  He told me the glove is there to play shortstop, but he worries about the bat.  Based on observation, Law could see Escobar developing into a .300 hitter with little power.

Latest From Baseball Prospectus: Jacque, Snell

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Will Carroll and John Perrotto have teamed up at BP to join the rumor mill, and yesterday’s post is free to nonsubscribers.  Some highlights:

  • Carroll reports that the Cubs could swap Jacque Jones and a prospect for Jeff Conine.  Perhaps such a move would be in tandem with Adam Dunn leaving Cincinnati.  The Cubs might want to hold on to Jones though; he’s playing well lately.
  • Carroll heard a far out Alex Rodriguez to the Dodgers rumor, but doesn’t buy it.  Neither do I – the Yankees don’t seem to be selling.  Carroll says Brian Cashman and Co. will wait until the last second to make a buyer/seller decision.  There’s a slight chance Jorge Posada becomes available if they choose the latter.
  • Perrotto confirms a rumor that surfaced a week ago, that Ian Snell could be had for the right bat.  Perrotto would know, as he spent time as a Pirates’ beat writer.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Matt Kemp are two possible targets for the Bucs.
  • The Tigers may be looking for relievers, and some possible names on the radar include Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, Brad Lidge, Salomon Torres, Damaso Marte, Shawn Chacon, and Chad Cordero.  That’s most of the market right there, though Lidge seems likely to stay put.  And don’t forget that the Tigers have internal reinforcements on the way.
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