Braves' struggles have Teixeira on the trade block
The Braves will listen to trade offers not only for Teixeira, but also left-handed reliever Will Ohman and center fielder Mark Kotsay.
Almost immediately after the Braves decided to trade Mark Teixeira on Monday, the Diamondbacks emerged as the apparent front-runner to land the switch-hitting first baseman.
At least two other clubs are in the mix for Teixeira, major-league sources say. But those teams might only be backups for the Braves if their talks with the Diamondbacks about a package built around first baseman Chad Tracy fail to progress.
The Dodgers and Rays are among the clubs that have shown interest in Teixeira, and both have young players who interest the Braves. But the Dodgers, set at first with James Loney for four more years, have little interest in Teixeira, who is a free agent at the end of the season. And the Rays, seeking long-term success, are less motivated than other clubs to acquire a rental player.
The Yankees and Red Sox are on the periphery of the Teixeira discussions, sources say. Boston is aggressively shopping left fielder Manny Ramirez, but a Ramirez-for-Teixeira exchange would make little sense for the Braves, who are essentially conceding their season.
The Angels, meanwhile, are reluctant to trade first baseman Casey Kotchman for Teixeira, and their chances of acquiring a hitter are "remote at best," according to a source with knowledge of the club's plans.
The Braves' preference in any Teixeira trade is a first baseman who they could keep beyond this season. However, they are expected to consider all types of players, including young prospects with high upsides.
The Diamondbacks, sources say, will not part with first baseman Conor Jackson for Teixeira, who is a free agent at the end of the season. But they would be open to moving Tracy, who is signed for $4.75 million next season with a $7 million option for 2010.
The Braves would want at least one other quality player to go with Tracy, who also plays third and could help the team protect against injury to Chipper Jones. Right-hander Micah Owings, a pitcher the Diamondbacks offered to the Nationals in their discussions over right-hander Jon Rauch, could be one possibility.
The Diamondbacks would not trade either of their top pitching prospects, right-hander Max Scherzer or right-hander Jarrod Parker. But a lesser pitcher such as righty Billy Buckner as well as center fielder Gerardo Parra and infielder Jamie D'Antona are among the prospects who could be in play.
Jackson would remain in left field if the Diamondbacks acquired Teixeira, then return to first base next season when Eric Byrnes recovers from his torn left hamstring. The D-backs would not attempt to sign Teixeira long-term, instead accepting two premium draft picks when he departs as a free agent.
Atlanta's decision to sell off parts comes after a trying weekend. The Braves blew a six-run lead on Saturday, and a five-run lead on Sunday. On Monday, the team announced that Chipper Jones is headed back to the disabled list, and Tim Hudson will join him there. Also over the weekend, Brian McCann suffered a mild concussion in a home-plate collision with the Phillies' Shane Victorino.
The Braves are in fourth place in the NL East, 6 ½ games out, 10 ½ games back in the wild card.
Around the horn
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| Rockies are interested in trading closer Brian Fuentes, but finding the right young starting pitcher for their rotation has yet to happen. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images) |
The Rockies remain willing to trade closer Brian Fuentes if they can acquire a young starting pitcher whom they could plug immediately into their rotation. Someone like Marlins right-hander Anibal Sanchez would qualify, but the Fish consider Sanchez too steep a price. Phillies lefty J.A. Happ could be another possibility, and the Rays have a host of options at Class AAA . . .
Reasons to believe that the Marlins could stay in it: The pending return of Sanchez, the re-emergence of righty Josh Johnson, who is throwing 93 to 94 mph, and the impressive debut of righty Chris Volstad, whom one scout says, "Looks like Jim Palmer." Volstad, according to media reports in South Florida, actually got pitching lessons from Palmer when he was 9-years-old . . .
Rather than overpay for the Mariners' Raul Ibanez, the Mets could do nothing. Club officials are confident that Ryan Church will make a strong recovery from his migraine-related issues, reducing the need to add an outfielder. If necessary, they could always add one during the August waiver period — or turn to a prospect such as Daniel Murphy or Fernando Martinez, who is dealing with an iffy right hamstring . . .
If the Orioles want a young shortstop for closer George Sherrill, would they consider the Rays' Reid Brignac? Probably not, sources say, because Orioles owner Peter Angelos is leery of trading within the division — a self-defeating posture until the O's reach the point where actually are competitive again. The Rays might not do Brignac for Sherrill, either, but their reluctance would be trading a shortstop for a reliever, not losing Brignac to a division rival . . .
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| The Orioles are searching for a young shortstop near the trade deadline, but owner Peter Angelos doesn't want to deal away closer George Sherrill. (Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images) |
The Rangers continue to field calls for catchers Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and one club official estimates that it's "50-50" that one will be moved before the deadline. The Marlins, Reds, Red Sox and Indians would figure to be among the clubs in the market for a catcher. The Rangers control Laird for two more years and Saltalamacchia for five more, and they've got Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez behind them. Their goal in any deal: young pitching . . .
The reviews of the Pirates' four-player return for outfielder Xavier Nady and lefty Damaso Marte ranged from critical to scathing, but righty Daniel McCutchen was a favorite of the Yankees' brass. McCutchen projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter or setup man, but the Yankees say his makeup is so strong, he could exceed those expectations . . .
Just wondering: Will the Red Sox's Youkilis need to be carried off the field on a stretcher before Major League Baseball puts Yankees right-hander Joba Chamberlain on notice? Chamberlain has knocked Youkilis down four times in less than a year — and Friday night's beaning came dangerously close to the first baseman's head . . .
Sitting near the dugouts as a field reporter on the Saturday MLB On FOX broadcasts occasionally puts me in position to see and hear interesting things. One of my favorite moments of the season occurred Saturday when the Yankees' newly-arrived Nady passed me on his way out to the field, smiled and said, "My gosh, what a day."
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