Monday, July 28, 2008

I'll See Your Blake And Raise You One Teixeira

The Diamondbacks are apparently close to a deal to acquire Mark Teixeira from the Braves, according to the Yahoo Sports blog, Big League Stew:

While everyone is going agog over the Manny trade speculation that will most likely ultimately go nowhere, the wheeling and dealing for a much more attainable difference maker in Mark Teixeira is flying under the radar.

That could change quickly, though, because a front office source from another team interested in Teixeira just told Yahoo! Sports' Steve Henson that negotiations between the Diamondbacks and Braves were "pretty far along." The Braves are said to be asking for a prospect and either Conor Jackson or Chad Tracy in return.

Teixeira will be a free agent at the end of the season and a trade would mark the second time in as many years that the slugger was swapped at the trading deadline. The Braves gave up Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four minor leaguers to pry Tex from the Rangers last season.

If it goes through, it'd be a good trade for the D'backs, whose middling offense could use Texeira's power down the stretch while trying to fend off the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Tracy is scheduled to make $4.5 million next year in the last year of his deal while Jackson will be arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason.

Only one prospect? Surely the Braves can get more for Teixeira than a half-season rental plus one prospect. But to have a 20-HR hitter on the squad--wow (Arizona already has one in Mark Reynolds (21); Matt Kemp leads the Dodgers with 12).

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