As they have for the past week, rumors are flying around baseball about the possibility of Mark Teixeira going to the Braves. The thing that has caught my eye is what these rumors are saying we will give up for Salty. Here is one from the Dallas Morning News:
I get the inclusion of Salty in a deal, but a top-flight pitcher and our stud shortstop? Even if the deal has expanded to include a reliever, as many people have speculated, that still seems like a steep price. Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus had this to say about that rumored package:
Just a few days ago we were believing in what Ken Rosenthal was saying about not taking on salary AND trading a prospect. These latest rumors that have us paying a huge price of top prospects have me shying away from any deal that would send away so much of our future.
Teixeira for Salty I would still do. One of the big reasons I'd pull the trigger is that it would force us to have a regular above average first baseman and middle of the order hitter in the lineup every day. What we currently have is really a patchwork of old and young - four guys who are splitting time at first, Franco, Thorman, Salty, and Woodward, and four guys who are collectively the worst first baseman in the majors.
Whatever the price I hope JS doesn't overdo it. I think we need some extra pieces - ones that will give us an edge in the NL East - and I'm willing to surrender some prospects, but not the number that some of these rumors have us giving away.