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Mark Teixeira

Rosenthal On Teixeira For Hughes Possibility

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Ken Rosenthal has a long article today regarding possible scenarios by which Mark Teixeira becomes a Yankee.  Rosenthal says the Yankees scouted the Rangers last week in regards to Eric Gagne and Akinori Otsuka.  The Rangers expect Brian Cashman to have interest in Teixeira, and have been performing due diligence on Phil Hughes and other Yankee farmhands.

Rosenthal’s main point: Hughes is not untouchable, but Teixeira could be traded to the Yankees without him involved.  Maybe Jon Daniels surrenders two of his major trading chips in a single blockbuster, giving up Otsuka or Gagne plus Teixeira just to get Hughes.  One would be hard-pressed to say that deal does not make the Yankees significantly better in 2007.

If Daniels is going to earn that contract extension, he needs to get another big-market team seriously involved.  It would be fantastic to get Boston seriously engaged.  The Tigers are another option.  But if Daniels comes up with quantity over quality – for example the Rosenthal proposal of Melky Cabrera, Chase Wright, and another prospect – he will have failed.

Angels Could Get In On Teixeira

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We know the Angels have been kicking the tires on Adam Dunn and Miguel Tejada already.  Today, Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times suggests that the Angels would get involved on Mark Teixeira if he becomes available.  Somewhere, Casey Kotchman just wept silently on the inside.

Arte Moreno raised an interesting point yesterday – it takes two to tango.  True, Bill Stoneman has not been an active trader, but the Angels were 15 minutes away from a Tejada blockbuster last summer.  And Moreno also hinted that the price for Adam Dunn was indeed exorbitant.

Healey’s Latest

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Mark Healey at Gotham Baseball has long been a solid, underappreciated source of inside information.  He’s got another Rumor Mill up at his site.  My summary follows.

  • The Yankees have an eye on big-name 1Bs like Mark Teixeira and Todd Helton.  But more realistically, they’re looking at Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena.  He’s got the defense, so even if he regresses to a 20 HR bat it’s a nice pickup.  Healey’s source believes Tyler Clippard is too much but the Rays like Sean Henn.  The Yanks have also inquired about the versatile Ty Wigginton.
  • The Reds, Rockies, and others have been scouting the Yankees’ Double A Trenton affiliate.  Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, and Brett Gardner are probably the most desirable players on that roster.  Gotham Baseball has previously connected the Yankees to Brian Fuentes and David Weathers.  Another reliever the Yankees like is Chad Bradford, though the O’s price may be too high.
  • Gotham quotes an NL scout who doesn’t believe the Mets will acquire a starter by trading Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, or Fernando Martinez.  That scout believes the return of Pedro will supply the needed boost.  Personally, I can see Milledge going.
  • Some former Mets on the radar: Brady Clark, Jay Payton, and David Weathers.
  • Healey says the Mets sent scouts to look at Randy Winn this weekend.  They must not be pleased with Moises Alou’s progress.  As I mentioned earlier, Winn is signed through 2009.  He has a full no-trade clause this year.  For 2008-09 he can block deals to ten teams.
  • The Pirates have some vets to trade, and have contacted the Mets regarding Shawn Chacon and Damaso Marte.  Marte is quietly having a fine season with a 1.21 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.  Marte earns $2.45MM this year, and $2MM in ’08 with an odd $6MM club option for 2009.  He can also earn incentives based on games finished.

The Latest on Teixiera

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As the Rangers fall further and further out of the AL West race, the rumors about Mark Teixiera keep coming up.  But Jon Daniels says he’s not making any calls, though he expects to get plenty.  Tex would be an upgrade for an awful lot of teams, but the most obvious one is the Yankees, who have both Jason Giambi and Doug Mientkiewicz on the disabled list.

Another interesting destination could be Detroit, where first base duties are being shared by the unimpressive Sean Casey and the underwhelming Marcus Thames.  Better yet, the Tigers are stacked with young pitching, so there’s no doubt they have the ammo to get a deal done.

By Jeff Sackmann
Brew Crew Ball

More Teixeira Talk

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It seems that the hot topic this summer will be Mark Teixeira and a possible trade.  This could end up another Alfonso Soriano/A.J. Burnett situation, where there’s tons of words wasted but no deal.

Buster Olney believes the Rangers will get some "tepid offers," with no team willing to pony up top prospects.  He also mentions that the Yankees have little to no interest in getting involved.  Though I think that could change if Brian Cashman is pushed out of power.

Teixeira makes $9MM this year, and could make $14MM or so in arbitration for 2008.  As a Boras client, you know he’ll hit the open market after that.  So if you trade for him, you’re basically getting 1.7 seasons of Teixeira for $20MM or so.

He’s an above average hitter, no one can argue that.  An average first baseman will post an .800 OPS, while Teixeira should be around .900.  The Tigers, Braves, Dodgers, and Orioles are all contenders with a weakness at first base.  Maybe no one is shelling out two top shelf prospects/young players, but some team should at least come up with one.  I still like a Daniel Cabrera for Teixeira swap.  Cabrera, while young and inconsistent, keeps the ball on the ground and at least has the potential of bringing fair value.  His 2007 walk rate, while still a problem, is easily the best of his career.   

Not sure if the Braves would give up Salty for Tex, but I imagine Jon Daniels would be receptive.  The Dodgers could give up one solid guy, maybe a James Loney.  The Tigers might be able to solve their problem simply by playing Marcus Thames at first every day.  Who says he can’t post an .850 OPS?

Heyman On Teixeira

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With the trading deadline a mere two months away, we have to drum up some big names on which to speculate.  The advent of no-trade clauses and the valuation of young pitching seems to have resulted in fewer blockbusters.  Mark Teixeira seems to be this summer’s big name. 

We last speculated about Teixeira two weeks ago.  The Orioles and Nick Markakis were discussed, as well as the fit for the Angels.  The Nationals were seen as a long shot.  Jon Heyman has talked to some baseball execs on this topic, and he’s got more ideas.  Heyman adds the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers to the mix as well.

The Yanks seemingly wouldn’t mind adding a major slugger at first base, and Heyman’s source doesn’t think they want Todd Helton.  But unless the Yanks revert to their old ways and trade The Franchise – Phil Hughes – a Teixeira acquisition seems unlikely.  The Yankees don’t have other elite pitching prospects.  They would have to go to more established players.  The Rangers don’t have a fit for Robinson Cano, though Chien-Ming Wang and his groundballing nature could work.

There’s no real reason for the Red Sox to give up the farm for Teixeira, unless they just want to keep him from the Yankees.  I don’t see it. 

The Dodgers I see as a strong player.  James Loney plus one of their top-rated starting pitching prospects and it’s a done deal.  I’m not sure Nomar can handle third base these days, but I don’t see that problem preventing a trade.   

Back to the Orioles – as much as Teixeira is dying to play for them, he’s not going to take a big discount and the price in young players will be high.  Then again, if the O’s could work something out involving Daniel Cabrera but not Markakis, that gamble could work for both clubs. 

The Angels are a fantastic fit, but when has Bill Stoneman ever made a trade like this?  I guess there’s a first time for everything.

Let’s not count out the Mets, Braves, or Tigers, either.

Mark Teixeira Trade Speculation

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Interesting trade speculation from Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News in Wednesday’s Q&A.  If the Rangers – currently 14-20 – slide further out of contention, they could consider trading 27 year-old first baseman Mark Teixeira this summer.  According to Grant, the bounty would have to include pitching and a Major League-ready first baseman or outfielder.

We know Baltimore covets Teixeira, so Grant’s idea of Nick Markakis and a pitcher for Teixeira could make sense on the surface.  The first baseman becomes a free agent after the 2008 season, but I don’t see the Orioles sitting down with Scott Boras and working out an eight-year extension.  I’m surprised we haven’t seen Teixeira’s name connected to the Angels yet; they’ve got the talent, the need, and the history of tolerating Scott Boras.

You may recall a Ken Rosenthal article from mid-March, where he paints Baltimore as quite anxious to acquire Teixeira. Rosenthal also throws the Nats into the mix since he’s a Maryland native and the team’s new ballpark will be opening.  As I noted a while back, Teixeira won’t be a free agent this offseason but he won’t come cheap in ’08.  His salary could jump from $9MM this year to $15MM or so through arbitration.

Ken Rosenthal’s Latest

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Ken Rosenthal has been hard at work with his sources, and he has a new article at FOX Sports.  Some highlights:

  • The Marlins and Dodgers are interested in Byung-Hyun Kim as a reliever, and the A’s could add him as the fifth starter instead of Joe Kennedy.  Kim, a 28 year-old sidearmer, hasn’t closed since ’03 with Boston.  A trade to Florida would make him the ninth inning favorite though.  He’ll earn $2.5MM this year.
  • The Rockies like Mark Hendrickson of L.A., and they may release Josh Fogg this spring.  I wouldn’t discard Kim while acquiring Hendrickson; Kim projects as a slightly better pitcher.  Advantages to acquiring Hendrickson from Dan O’Dowd’s point of view: a slightly better groundball rate and two years remaining until free agency.
  • The Blue Jays want to give Josh Towers a rotation spot.  Towers has nine Ks in nine innings this spring while allowing two runs.  Does spring training really have that kind of influence on a team’s decision-makers?  Towers will make $2.9MM this season, but he’s still pretty far from free agency.  The Jays would like to trade John Thomson; otherwise they may release him.  As a newly signed free agent Thomson can veto any deal.  He’d be wise to take a trade to the NL, in my opinion.
  • Rosenthal thinks the Orioles and Nationals will be competing for Mark Teixeira, who will become a free agent after the 2008 season.  Tex is a Maryland native, which usually doesn’t matter for a Boras client.  But Boras might actually be able to use this to get the two clubs bidding against each other.

Teixeira Possibilities

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Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News weighs the possibilities for first baseman Mark Teixeira, a Scott Boras client set to hit free agency after the 2008 season. 

When he hits arbitration after the 2007 season, it will be the first time Teixeira can request a salary commensurate to his peers.  Carlos Delgado would be a good match; I would expect Boras to ask for $14-15MM at that time.  PECOTA sees Teixeira as a $20MM player annually through 2011, so it will be money well spent.

Whether Texas will commit the $100+ million contract Teixeira will require after that remains to be seen.  Jon Daniels seems to be on decent terms with Boras, with recent signings of Eric Gagne and Kevin Millwood.

Minor Trades and Rumors

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The Cubs unloaded Neifi Perez on the Tigers today, and it was no surprise Neifi got through waivers.  What team would want to be on the hook for $2.5MM for him next year?  Ditching Neifi at this point at least partially rights the wrong of signing him to an extension in the first place for Jim Hendry.  The Cubs’ "everything man" will be making outs atop of Detroit’s lineup now.  Even more impressive is that Hendry snagged a 22 year-old catching prospect, Chris Robinson, in the deal.

The Mets added righty reliever Guillermo Mota today.  Along with Oliver Perez, this is another project with plenty of upside.  Mota was one of the game’s top setup men a few years ago.

Tom Glavine’s got a possible blood clot, which could mean season or career-ending surgery. At least his life is not in danger.  The news first appeared on an ESPN message board from a man said to be Glavine’s brother-in-law.  Back when Glavine appeared healthy, the same source indicated that the southpaw would finish his career with the Braves, at any salary.

Reggie Sanders may have cleared waivers.  Who wants a 38 year-old right fielder with a .248/.304/.424 line?  Don’t forget the $5MM he’s owed next year.   

From Yankees announcer Jim Kaat: the Rangers may be talking to the Orioles about Mark Teixeira.  Tex is from Maryland, for what it’s worth.

Plenty of buzz going around in various forms of media that the Red Sox may acquire reliever LaTroy Hawkins.  We’ll know soon enough.  The 33 year-old has, at least, kept the ball in the yard and exhibited good control with the Orioles this year.

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