Power hitting first baseman Mark Teixiera is now on the market and several teams would love to obtain his services for the stretch. Immediately after the Braves told the league that they are willing to trade big Tex, the Diamondbacks started to have discussions with the Braves. The D’backs started out the year as the most dominant team in the league but has dropped a little since then. A tentative deal is in place that would have third/first baseman Chad Tracy and prospects go to the Braves for the switch-hitting first baseman.

The Dodgers and Rays are also in the mix. The Dodgers have a commitment with the young and talented first baseman James Loney, so it wouldn’t make sense for them to empty out on a trade like this. The Rays are having their best year and are trying to get the edge in the AL East for good. Teixiera would be a huge boost, but the Rays want him for the long run. Teixiera’s agents name is Scott Boras, and the Rays know they would have to take out a huge loan to bag big Tex long term.

The Angels seem to be in the mix as well. They love their first baseman Casey Kotchman, and they would have to give up pitching prospect Nick Adenhart to grab him. The Angels have the best team in the American League, they should just keep what they have and win games with their consistent offense, and as usual superb pitching.

Eliminating all of the other contenders, the D’backs remain the number one team to get him. The D’backs refuse to trade Conor Jackson and right handed pitching prospects Max Scherzer or Jarrod Parker. They want Jackson to remain so he can play left field for the injured Eric Byrnes, and then go back to first base next year when Teixiera is signed away in free agency. By letting Teixiera go, the D’backs obtain two valuable premium draft picks.

Atlanta had to make their decision during these trying times. They are 7 games out in the NL East, 10 games out of the wild card and Chipper Jones was just placed on the DL along with right hander Tim Hudson. Also Brian McCann suffered a mild concussion in a plate collision against the Phillies over the weekend. The Braves are hurting and it just makes too much sense to trade away Teixiera for a better future. Teixiera looked like he belonged in Atlanta, but it just didn’t work out. He has said he wants to stay with Atlanta and try and pull what the Phillies did last year, the only difference is the Phillies were in second place, not fourth place. The Mets and Phillies are too good to overcome at this time in the year.

Expect Teixiera to be back in the NL East in 2009, as the Mets will take a big shot at him. Carlos Delgado has found new life, but not enough to keep him in New York in 2009. In a couple days it looks like Teixiera will have a chance to play for a contender and help them get to the big show, and if there is any first baseman who can lead a team there, its big Tex.

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