Teixeira reportedly to Atlanta
It's been clear for quite a while that the Orioles wouldn't be trading for Mark Teixeira, the Baltimore-area favorite son whose time with the Texas Rangers was growing short.
Baltimore fans would have loved to see Teixeira in orange and black. He's a homegrown kid who could provide some consistent punch to a lineup that for much of the year drifted between feeble and mediocre and only lately has come to life.
But it appears the Atlanta Braves are landing Teixeira for their own playoff run in the NL East. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports today that the switching-hitting first baseman, along with relief pitcher Ron Mahay, will cost Atlanta four prospects including catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (longest name in baseball), infielder Elvis Andrus, pitcher Matt Harrison and one other unknown pitcher. The Braves may not wind up signing Teixeira beyond the 2008 season when his current contract runs out, but for a team like Atlanta that figures to be in playoff contention now and next year, the deal makes sense.
Comments
Once the injury to Tejada revealed its seriousness, it became clear that a trade for Teixeira would be unlikely. Once more, it would not make since to make such a trade midseason 10+ games behind a division leader, when Teixeira is on record as saying that playing for Baltimore would be a dream for him, above the clear fact that Mark will be a free agent after this season. If the Orioles Organization truly wants Mark and/or can truly get Mark, we will find out in the off season.
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Good point. And it'll depend on what happens with the Braves as well. If he gets them to the playoffs, then they may want to hold onto him themselves and see what the world is like at this same point next season.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Doug | July 30, 2007 4:56 PM