Friday morning Teixeira watch

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 27, 2007 10:08 AM CDT in News

So, I'm thinking it will be all-Teixeira, all the time for the next 4 days and 6 hours (the deadline is 3 p.m. our time on Tuesday), as the rumors keep flying and teams start getting serious about the Teixeira situation...

Ken Rosenthal has an update on the bidding:

The game is now, "Can you top this?"

The Braves, major-league sources say, have made the Rangers a whopper of an offer for first baseman Mark Teixeira.
The Rangers evidently would receive three highly regarded young players -- catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Class AA left-hander Matt Harrison and Class A shortstop Elvis Andrus -- while sending the Braves only Teixeira.

At a time when teams are reluctant to trade inexpensive prospects for high-priced veterans, such a deal would be a coup for Rangers general manager Jon Daniels.

If he can beat the Braves' 3-for-1 proposal, more power to him.

The Dodgers, facing injury concerns in their starting rotation, are likely to focus solely on pitching.

The Angels have submitted a substantial two-player offer for Teixeira, according to an industry source, but are reluctant to go further.

First baseman Casey Kotchman almost certainly is part of the Angels' proposal. The other player likely is a pitcher, possibly Class AAA right-hander Ervin Santana.

Kotchman and Santana are more established than any of the players the Braves are offering. However, Kotchman's upside might not be as high as the switch-hitting Saltalamacchia's. Santana's value, meanwhile, has diminished considerably, in part because of his 7.16 ERA in 36 career road starts.

Even if the Angels swapped out another pitcher for Santana -- left-hander Joe Saunders perhaps, or Class AA right-hander Nick Adenhart -- their offer might not be as strong as the Braves'.

The Dodgers are the wild card, but the questionable state of their rotation could take them out of the Teixeira sweepstakes.

Okay. The Atlanta offer, if legit, is a very good offer. If the Braves do have this on the table, then Teixeira should end up being dealt...the only question would be, can they squeeze something more out of the Dodgers or Angels.

I'm not sure whether I'd prefer Kotchman and Adenhart over the Atlanta offer. I'd have to think about that. Ditto Loney and Kershaw...

Dave Sessions says that the Rangers have to move Teixeira, and have to NOT move him to Anaheim:

Trading Teixeira to the Angels could be a mistake for Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, who would have to be convinced he was getting value above and beyond the offers from anyone else. Why? Because Teixeira could turn into a Ranger killer, just like Vladimir Guerrero, and remind Daniels of the decision 19 times a season for as long as he's an Angel. Then again, first baseman Casey Kotchman, who would be the lynchpin of that deal from Los Angeles' point of view, is a career .371 hitter in Arlington.

Did we mention Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, has seats behind the plate in both Los Angeles-market stadiums?

Still, the last thing Daniels, or anyone in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for that matter, would like to see is Teixeira crushing home runs to both fields while wearing an opponents' uniform. Trading him to the National League would make that a rare sight some years and an impossibility most years.

Given that the chances of Texas being a playoff team in 2008 are slight, and given that Teixeira is unlikely to re-up with whatever team he signs with, I don't see Teixeira going to Anaheim as being a problem. I don't care if he kills us for the next season-and-a-half as an Angel...if the return is solid, that's all that matters.

Evan Grant offers some specifics on the Anaheim offer:

The Rangers continue to sift through trade offers for first baseman Mark Teixeira, but Thursday passed with no significant movement. The Los Angeles Angels, one of three teams in the mix for Teixeira, were the most recent to tweak their offer. The Angels had originally offered first baseman Casey Kotchman and a choice of outfield prospects Nathan Haynes or Terry Evans.

It is believed Los Angeles has now added a pitcher to the mix, but the level of pitcher could vary widely from a young prospect with a high ceiling (20-year-old right-hander Nick Adenhart) to an experienced but struggling major leaguer (recently demoted Ervin Santana) to a prospect on the verge of pitching in the majors (lefty Joe Saunders).

Kotchman and one of the outfielders is not a real good offer. Kicking in Adenhart puts it close to the Atlanta offer, if not better...Saunders and Santana, on the other hand, I'm not that high on. Santana, I've spoken about before, and Saunders seems like a back of the rotation guy, and the Rangers need something better than that in a Teixeira deal.

The L.A. Times has a story headlined "Teixeira or Bust":

Though there is an outside chance they could acquire Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, it appears to be Mark Teixeira or bust for the Angels, who, according to baseball sources, were rebuffed in their attempts to pry Paul Konerko from the White Sox and have all but given up their pursuit of Cincinnati slugger Adam Dunn.

The Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox are also pursuing Teixeira, the Texas first baseman who in 75 games is batting .299 with 13 home runs and 49 runs batted in, and the Rangers are in the process of leveraging each team against the other in an attempt to drive up the offers for the switch-hitter.

Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman would be part of any package to acquire Teixeira, and the Rangers, who had zeroed in on Ervin Santana before the struggling right-hander was demoted to triple-A Salt Lake on July 18, are believed to be comfortable with left-hander Joe Saunders as part of a deal.

But the Rangers want a third player and are scouring the Angels' farm system to determine who to ask for. If Texas wants one of the Angels' elite prospects, such as third baseman Brandon Wood or double-A pitcher Nick Adenhart, trade talks would fizzle. But if Texas would accept a lesser prospect, a deal would be more likely.

The Rangers are also believed to be interested in outfielders Reggie Willits, Nathan Haynes or Terry Evans as the third player in the deal.

Kotchman, Santana and Willits, Haynes or Evans? Bleah.

Kotchman, Santana and Adenhart? Sign me up.

I also have to wonder if seeing the stock on some of these guys plummet may make Stoneman a little more aggressive than he has been in the past. A few years ago, the Angels had three stud positional prospects that were going to lead them to the promised land -- Kotchman, Jeff Mathis, and Dallas McPherson. McPherson and Mathis have busted, and Kotchman has turned into a nice player. Meanwhile, Brandon Wood, Ervin Santana, and Erick Aybar have all seen their stock go down this season.

That might make Stoneman more willing to kick in someone like Adenhart than he would have been in previous years...

Bobby Cox, meanwhile, is praising the work of Julio Franco as their new first baseman, saying he's better than his 4 for 23 start would suggest. Uh-huh.

David O'Brien at the AJC says that acquiring Teixeira may hasten Andruw Jones' departure from Atlanta, as the Braves may prefer to give $18 million per year long-term to Teixeira instead of Jones.

The thing there is, though, I don't know if Teixeira is going to take $18 million per year. I'd bet it is going to take a lot more than that to get him to sign an extension before he becomes a free agent.

Joel Sherman reports that the feeling is the Rangers like the offer from Atlanta, and are basically waiting to see if anyone tops it.

The Boston Herald says that the BoSox aren't making in major moves because of the "exorbinant demands" of the sellers, painting the Rangers as ridiculous for waiting two out of the Buchholz/Ellsbury/Lester trio.

The Boston Globe says the price for Teixeira is Buchholz, Ellsbury, and a third player...

Personally, I'm not sure that a Lester/Ellsbury package is better than the Atlanta offer or what the Angels will offer, although Buchholz and Ellsbury plus one might be, depending on who the third player is.

New York Newsday says the Rangers need to lower their demands for Teixeira for the Yankees to be involved, and another report says that the Yanks won't part with Chamberlain, Kennedy or Hughes, and thus are going to focus on Ty Wigginton instead of Teixeira.

But hey, the Yankees can pat themselves on the back for not parting with any of their pitching prospects, and can convince themselves that Andy Phillips and a couple of pitchers below the Alan Horne-level of quality was a strong offer, and the Rangers were just being unreasonable, while the BoSox can tell themselves the same thing, that Brandon Moss and Wily Mo Pena was more than reasonable...

Meanwhile, teams aren't interested in Sammy Sosa, because he's not, you know, any good. However, the New York Post says Omar Minaya may now finally be interested in taking a flyer on Sosa...

In non-trade stuff, Mike Heika has a piece on Travis Metcalf's learning curve, as does Anthony Andro in the S-T. I don't think Metcalf is going to be a regular third baseman on a good team, but I wouldn't have a problem with him as a platoon guy or a bench player, particularly if the Rangers wanted to look at having Hank Blalock play some first base.

Tweet Comment 80 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Thanks for my daily fix...

I don't know if I can take this much longer

by JBImaknee on Jul 27, 2007 10:04 AM CDT reply actions

You don't think

Loney and Kershaw would be the best offer of those 3?

by Longhorn on Jul 27, 2007 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think it's on the table

but I personally think its better

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Heh

Of course it is.

Exactly my thought, too.

Any package with Kershaw trumps. I'd take Kershaw with nothing thrown in but a pat on the back for Teixeira.

I'm surprised you're so blase about that pitcher, Adam.

by hightowersmith on Jul 27, 2007 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Meh

Terrific prospect, but...TNSTAAPP. Young pitchers get hurt. They flame out. Spit happens.

It would be hard for me to say, I'd rather have Kershaw than Salt.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 27, 2007 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Its true

TNSTAAPP, but, OTOH, there is no way we get a dominant Ace pitcher for the Rangers without drafting one, or trading for one as a prospect.

by DJCahill on Jul 27, 2007 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

You'd say

Salty over Hughes or Joba? Wow...

by Longhorn on Jul 27, 2007 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

No

I'd rather have Joba or Hughes than Saltalamacchia.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 27, 2007 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Offense only...

Do you think Salty will be better than Kotchman?

"WORDS HURT WORSE THAN IF SOMEONE FROZE A SLEDGEHAMMER AND HITS YOUR CROTCH OVER AND OVER! AND IF YOU'RE A GIRL THEY JUST HIT YOU IN THE FACE!"

by miles on Jul 27, 2007 10:11 AM CDT reply actions

Depends

Both players will have a huge boost in terms of power if they were to play 81 games in a hitters park. However, it comes down to position. If Saltamacchia stays behind the plate for his time in Texas, he will be more valuable. There are not many power hitting catchers, but 1B has lots of power hitters.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 27, 2007 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Not that I don't have faith

but at this point, JD HAS to make a trade. We only go on rumors there are enough rumors out there of solid trades (unlike Soriano) where if for some reason he doesn't get a deal done, he should get axed at the end of the season.

I do have faith, but I get antsy with all this waiting for the offers to get upped. I would have jumped over the Atl. offer yesterday and moved on to Gagne.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think the offers will get any better

than what is already on the table, unless a third team gets seriously involved.

Any chance the Yankees are waiting in the bushes?

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 27, 2007 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

actually

I think I would have balked at harrison, which is what JD might have done. Maybe I ask one of my scouts if they can recommend someone else. Overall, it seems rather nitpicky to get held up on that guy but he does seem too mediocre.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd much rather have Jo-Jo

I don't care much for Harrison. Seems like a big old steaming pile of mediocrity to me.

And I'm still holding out hope we get Feliz and/or Kaaihlue thrown in this deal... even if we have to toss in Mahay to get them.

Gas, brake, honk. Gas, brake, honk. Honk, honk, punch. Gas, gas, gas.

by thedirkatron on Jul 27, 2007 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Kaaihlue

I would love to get him for Mahay he's a personal fave of mine

by bushe on Jul 27, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

IMO

The only team that might come out of nowhere is Baltimore. And I don't think they have the ammo to get it done.

by badradiorules on Jul 27, 2007 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

i think they may have it

they just won't want to part with it.

by Lonerangers on Jul 27, 2007 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

that had to take a while to put together

lots of info this morning...

i wish the trade deadline were tomorrow, get this done.

im still partial to the braves offer, but if adenhart gets involved then youve got some thinking to do.

by DShep on Jul 27, 2007 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

heh

i'm glad it's tuesday. look how far the offers have came in last few days...imagine what they might look like night of..

by Longhorn on Jul 27, 2007 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

The Countdown Clock?

Is it hard to place one of the clocks on the site?

by 3Bagger on Jul 27, 2007 10:21 AM CDT reply actions

My rank of offers

Kotchman/Adenhart/Santana for Tex only
Salty/Elvis/Harrison for Tex only
Loney/Kershaw/OFer for Tex + reliever
Kotchman/Adenhart for Tex only
Salty/Elvis/Harrison for Tex + Wilson

by JBImaknee on Jul 27, 2007 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

I like that

and #3 might move up if the OF is Kemp.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions

fat chance

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

lol MIGHT

just maybe if they included a really athletic ML ready OF with great power. MIGHT move up :)

by bushe on Jul 27, 2007 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

lol, maybe not

depends on who the reliever is going the other way. If it's Mahay, yeah, if Gagne, not.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

i dont know man

i think i would take loney/kershaw/kemp

for teixeira/gagne.

Especially if there are no other offers on the table for him.

by Lonerangers on Jul 27, 2007 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd take it, too

I think, or maybe ask for one more low level throw-in. I meant that it would not be a "lol" move up, not that I wouldn't do it.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

#3

even w/o the outfielder should be considered #1 if it is actually on the table.

by Lonerangers on Jul 27, 2007 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions

3 = 1

Whoever the OFer is...

by Longhorn on Jul 27, 2007 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

whoever the reliever is?

you make the deal if LA insists on CJ Wilson

(I don't think LA wants CJ Wilson, just asking)

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes.

in a heartbeat.

by Longhorn on Jul 27, 2007 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Atlanta

That is a pretty good offer, and I agree it should be seized upon unless LAA tops it. I think the Dodgers are out at this point, they'll go after pitching if anything. I like the direction this is going.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

How about

Texas gets:
Salty and Loney

Dodgers get:
Teixeira maybe Benoit

Atlanta gets:
Gagne and Either(LF)

Completely unreal so sorry.

Hello

by madyp on Jul 27, 2007 10:28 AM CDT reply actions

unreal, indeed

who plays 1B for Atlanta? Franco/Thorman is not going to get it done.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I hate the Atlanta offer

It basically amounts to Salty + spares.

It doesn't improve our pitching in the near or long term.

Harrison goes into our system depth chart behind Hurley, Diamond, Galarraga, Kiker, and Volquez. Maybe Mendoza too. IF he performs well in '08 at AAA, AND he outperforms those other guys, he's a rookie in '09 at best. His upside is nowhere near a Danks or Hurley.

Andrus is just too far away to and unproven to put any stock into.

If we play Salty at catcher, we need to trade Laird. We're left with Wilkerson or Blalock at first.

We've traded Tex for an upgrade at catcher and a significant downgrade at first.

JD should be fired if he makes that move.

by LukeR on Jul 27, 2007 10:38 AM CDT reply actions

We're trading one more year of Tex

for a Catcher for 5 more years and 2 prospects who may or may not contribute.

by DJCahill on Jul 27, 2007 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

so you like the trade today?

You didn't seem so hot on it yesterday.

by LukeR on Jul 27, 2007 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Its been upgraded

since yesterday. I like it more now.

I think we are entering the territory if all the rumored deals are truly on the table, the Rangers will be able to make a deal that will help the franchise for a long time, at the expense of making them worse for 2008.

by DJCahill on Jul 27, 2007 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions

the upgrade was Harrison for Reyes

which is swapping one marginal pitching prospect for another.

It's Schuerholz working his magic again, this time on poor old JD.

The Braves system has got to be one of the most overrated in baseball. They are riding the coattails of the early years of this decade. After all the promotions, they've got nothing past Salty.

by LukeR on Jul 27, 2007 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Harrison

He was #90 on the pre-season BA Top 100. I wouldn't call him a stud pitching prospect (and Atlanta probably doesn't have any) but I'd certainly put him in the same class as Volquez right now. Different type of pitcher, but an equally good prospect.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Jul 27, 2007 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Except he throws more strikes.

Obviously you're not a golfer.

by chief on Jul 27, 2007 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

Volquez is a hard-throwing K guy with control issues; Harrison is out of the Glavine mold.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Jul 27, 2007 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

well

it would be a significant upgrade at catcher, and you're controlling him for longer than you are controlling Tex. I see your point but I think the best you can do is 1 ML ready player and the rest you're going to have to go on projectability.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd take Kotchman / Saunders over Atlanta's offer

Except it's foolish to trade Tex within the division.

You could argue they only have him for one more year... but since they'll probably dominate the division in '08, what if he resigns with them in '09? I believe Tex when he says he only wants to play for a winner.

by LukeR on Jul 27, 2007 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Strikes

The difference between alot of our guys and Harrison is very simple he throws strikes.

I do see your point about being ML ready, but I like the offer.

by bushe on Jul 27, 2007 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

gives up few

HRs, too, a plus here. Good control.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

comparing AA leagues

does anyone know how the AA Southern League compares to AA Texas League in terms of pitcher/hitter friendly environments?

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 27, 2007 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

AA leagues

The Texas League is by far the most hitter-friendly of the three AA leagues. I think the Eastern League is supposed to be a bit more pitcher-friendly than the Southern, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Looking at the park factors for Frisco vs. Mississippi (from the Baseball Think Factory chart in the links menu on the right) it looks like they're fairly even in terms of effects on run scoring, or at least were from 2003-05.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Jul 27, 2007 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

what if

What would you think if Laird could be flipped to the Cubs for Pie?

by Brandon Wilson on Jul 27, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

that

would be a good deal for TX.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions

No

That would be an incredibly great deal.

Gas, brake, honk. Gas, brake, honk. Honk, honk, punch. Gas, gas, gas.

by thedirkatron on Jul 27, 2007 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

it's funny

a couple weeks ago someone here said the Cubs would insane to trade Gagne for Pie.

I want to see Pie hit major league pitching. He's obviously a great talent, but so far he hasn't hit for beans in the bigs. Now he's tearing it up in AAA. So are Nelson Cruz and Victor Diaz.

But I think there's no way the Cubs make that trade.

by LukeR on Jul 27, 2007 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

maybe...

Laird plus a reliever for Pie?

We need a legit CF and I think Pie may be the best chance we have to fill that role. I think he'll come around hitting wise (go Rudy!) and he can go get it pretty good in the ourfield.

by Brandon Wilson on Jul 27, 2007 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Love it

I would love that deal.

by badradiorules on Jul 27, 2007 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

baseball think factory

site seems to be down. Killing me, I need my refresh updates!

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 10:43 AM CDT reply actions

Cubs

I am surprised that the Cubs are not linked to the Rangers (well, more than just Laird). They have a good shot at winning the division, assuming they make an upgrade here and there.

Pie is not hitting (and recently sent down to get consistent AB's), but there is really nobody to take his place. I see that Jacques Jones has been getting some time in CF, but this is hardly an ideal option. Lofton would fit their needs perfectly.

There are questions about the health of Cliff Floyd. Against righties he is hitting .296/.360/.402. Obviously, he is hitting worse against lefties. Sosa would make a nice platoon, and allow some much needed rest for Floyd. Most of all, Sosa won't cost much.

The bullpen could also use an upgrade, and the Rangers have a few arms that they could deal. Daniels seems to be getting a reputation (at least for right now) that he is asking for the moon in any trade. This could be spin by other front office executives, or it may be true. Regardless, I think the Cubs could easily afford Sosa and Mahay without having to give away their farm system. Should they want to deal more prospects, they cold add Lofton and Benoit. I know this team is looking to sell, so they don't want to add lots of money for the future. The Rangers are full of players who have expiring contracts (and they are all reasonable as well).

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 27, 2007 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think Sosa will be going back to the Cubs.

If I were the Yankees however, I would consider Sosa as a Platoon RF with Abreu.

by DJCahill on Jul 27, 2007 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Sosa

I think he would be a great fit for the Yankees. They could even rotate left-handers sitting against left-handed pitchers.

by badradiorules on Jul 27, 2007 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions

If the Yankees did nothing

but played Abreu vs. righties and Sosa versus lefties in RF, their RF goes from bad to one of the better RF situations in the game. Abreu is the opposite of Sosa this year.

Abreu
Overall .272/.351/.399
vs RH .289/.373/.444
vs LH .226/.294/.283

by DJCahill on Jul 27, 2007 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

You're right

But, they could also choose to rest Damon, Matsui and Abreu down the stretch. They all need it.

by badradiorules on Jul 27, 2007 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Teix is in line of way more than 18 mil a yr

I heard on Mike and Mike they were talking to some 'baseball expert' who said Boras has been talking about the 25-30 mill range.

"I'm an aggressive guy, I'm not a guy who's going to go up there and swing like a girl." - Sammy Sosa

by cgolden on Jul 27, 2007 10:51 AM CDT reply actions

i can see that

Arod=30+
Tex=25-30

I think Boras has no problem peddling the two of them as the best and second best offensive commodities in the game.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Switch-hitter

don't forget he goes both ways!

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Jul 27, 2007 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions

You mean

in a Piazza way? or a mantle way?

by badradiorules on Jul 27, 2007 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes Yes

New moniker time.

I propose The Switch-Hitter-formerly-known-as-Doucheyface...

I will not get my comeuppance!

by Brian Thomas on Jul 27, 2007 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

I've been thinking for awhile that

the bare minimum to re-sign him is an Alex Rodriguez contract.

by DJCahill on Jul 27, 2007 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

And that is way too much.

ARod, when he signed his first contract, was the most valuable player in baseball

Teixeira is probably in the top ten players in the game -maybe- but he just isn't in ARod's class. He's a top twenty hitter who can also field extremely well, which makes him kind of unique. But still - almost every aspect of Pujols' game is better than Teixeira's. ARod will be better than Teixeira over the next 5 years. Vlad and Cabrera probably should command more money also. And that doesn't even touch pitchers - Johan Santana, Peavy? All these guys are more valuable than Tex.

Right now, Teixeira is #19 in baseball in OPS. Now, some of those guys (Carlos Pena, Chase Utley, Chris Duncan) are above him because of career years, whereas you know year-in, year-out that Teixeira will finish in the top 20 and win a gold glove. And that is great - but that makes him about the same as an Andruw Jones (before his recent slump)- a very good hitter who excels at his position. Extremely valuable, but not one of the top players in the game right now. He's not worth 20/year.

It is a shame that Andruw has had such a down year - I would have loved to see how Boras tried to spin both of them into the 2nd biggest contracts in baseball...

by JBImaknee on Jul 27, 2007 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree with you its too much

However, I think its pretty obvious that that is the order of magnitude of money it would take to re-sign him before free agency.

Which is why I came to the conclusion last year that Teixeira would eventually have to be traded if the Rangers wanted to maximise value for him.

The price Boras thinks he is worth is much higher than I would want to pay, and it all comes down to what is the best trade you can get for him and when is the best time to make the trade.

by DJCahill on Jul 27, 2007 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Tex and ARod...

Would the Angels trading for Tex impact their ability to potentially go after ARod this off season? Would that potentially keep ARod from opting out?

Also - The Red Sox have asked Brandon Moss to try out first base for a bit. Could that have anything to do with their offer to Texas for Tex?

by jeremy @ Lone Star Ball on Jul 27, 2007 11:18 AM CDT reply actions

Note on Adenhart

This was from Scout.com from a late June story:

"Before Thursday's game, Double-A Arkansas placed right-hander Nick Adenhart on the seven-day disabled list with soreness in his throwing shoulder."

No stories followed, so I don't know what his condition is today, but a sore shoulder in the middle of the season is not necessarily a strong selling point.

by doolindalton on Jul 27, 2007 11:23 AM CDT reply actions

well

he's pitched fine since (1 average start right after but the rest were fine) and went 8IP last time out.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jul 27, 2007 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Is it more important to get a hitter or a pitcher?

I like the Atlanta offer, but I can see why JD is waiting for more.

We need more starting pitching. Our offense is terrible, but that will be easier to fix during free agency (guys like Dunn, Abreu, Dye, Lowell, plus all of the CFs will be available). If we don't add another starter, we'll go into next year with a rotation of Millwood, Padilla, McCarhty, Loe, and Hurley. We will still have Tejeda around (unless he's out of options), but no one else really inspiring at AAA. Given Millwood's poor performance, Padilla's health issues, and the questions at the back of the rotation, we will need to add another starter for next year.

Well, here is a list of starting pitchers available through free agency next year:

Starting Pitchers
Kris Benson * BAL
Paul Byrd * CLE
Shawn Chacon PIT
Matt Clement BOS
Bartolo Colon LAA
Scott Elarton KC
Josh Fogg COL
Casey Fossum * TB
Freddy Garcia PHI
Livan Hernandez ARZ
Jason Jennings HOU
Brian Lawrence * COL
Jon Lieber PHI
Kyle Lohse CIN
Rodrigo Lopez COL
Wade Miller CHC
Eric Milton CIN
Odalis Perez * KC
Joel Pineiro * BOS
Kenny Rogers DET
Curt Schilling BOS
Carlos Silva MIN
Julian Tavarez * BOS
Brett Tomko * LAD
Kip Wells STL
Randy Wolf * LAD
Jaret Wright BAL
Carlos Zambrano CHC
Victor Zambrano NYM

Other than Zambrano (who we won't sign), that is a really ugly list of pitchers. We do not want to go into the offseason needing starting pitching.

Thus, we have to get atleast one starting pitcher for Tex. The problem is that guys like Harrison and Adenhart, both fine prospects, probably won't be able to contribue at the start of next year if, for example, Padilla is hurt or the young pitchers are ineffective.

I'm sure the Anahiem offer is tempting because a pitcher like Santana or Saunders can step into the rotation immediately, although there's no guarantee either will pitch well.

I think JD is waiting on one of two things. First, Atlanta has yet to make their best offer. Replacing Andrus with Jo Jo Reyes would give Texas the starting pitcher it needs going into next year. Second, I think we're waiting on Boston. Boston has Buchholz. Because Boston has Buccholz, they can make the best offer without giving up Ellsbury or Lester. A package with guys like Lowrie, Moss, and Bowden (for example) would trump any of the offers we've heard so far.

by cstorm15 on Jul 27, 2007 11:38 AM CDT reply actions

Yup

Dude, I couldn't agree more. Top to bottom.

Although I would say yes to a package with Lester, though... Boston's just not going to give Buchholz under any circumstances.

If they did Lester, Ellsbury and whomever (eg, Moss, although I like Bowden much more as a third player...a far superior arm to Harrison) it surpasses the Atlanta offer easily.

I am very psyched to see JD's holdout. I hope Boston gets back in this...it's a shame the Yankees seem so firm in not participating.

by hightowersmith on Jul 27, 2007 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

According to the not so trustworthy mlbtraderumors

According to Dennis Manoloff, the Indians are close to acquiring outfielder Kenny Lofton. I've heard that the Rangers will receive catcher Max Ramirez, who the Indians got for Bob Wickman last year.

don't know that I would trust it.

by BHill on Jul 27, 2007 11:39 AM CDT reply actions

the

actual article has no mention of the return for Lofton ... it's just wild speculation, but if it is Ramirez Jon Daniels has a serious hard-on for catchers.

by BHill on Jul 27, 2007 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Ramirez

He's really more of a bat at this point- his defense is supposedly pretty bad, but his minor-league lines show a guy with some serious power & OBP.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Jul 27, 2007 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Teixeira

The most encouraging thing about the Atlanta offer is that JD didn't take it.

Makes you wonder how long it would stay on the table, or if Schuerholtz would accept JD saying "let me get back to you...I'm going to shop this one around."

Surely that's what he's doing.

JD appears to have great respect for the marketplace: make absolutely sure you have the best deal anyone's going to offer.

That said, Andrus and Harrison are viewed too optimistically. We should not be trading as fine a player as Teixeira for a magic bean like Andrus.

Get a better skill set than Harrison, even if Andrus gets excluded. Find a way to get JoJo or James with Saltalamacchia, even if you have to throw something in.

by hightowersmith on Jul 27, 2007 1:14 PM CDT reply actions