Hot- Stove

There are 61 games left in the season, but less than a week before Frank Wren must decide whether the Braves should look more to the future and trade slugger Mark Teixeira and left-handed reliever Will Ohman before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. “It’s a daily assessment, not some magic number of games out or anything like that,” Wren said. “It’s a matter of watching how the team’s playing, are we playing good baseball.” A series sweep for Atlanta in Philadelphia might convince the Braves to acquire a hitter to supplement an outfield that has produced just 20 homers, easily the fewest among NL outfields. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta will be an intriguing team to watch as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches at the end of the month. The Braves, languishing in fourth place in the NL East, have to decide whether to trade free-agent-to-be Mark Teixeira. “I believe they will,” one NL executive said. “He can help restock their system.” — Philadelphia Inquirer

First baseman Mark Teixeira agreed to a $12.5 million, one-year contract with the Braves on Thursday, one of four Atlanta players coming to terms rather than going through arbitration.

Teixeira, who added power to the Braves lineup after being acquired from Texas just before the trade deadline, received a big raise over the $9 million he made last season. He batted .317 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs with Atlanta. Overall, Teixeira had 30 homers, 105 RBIs and hit .306.

The more difficult negotiations with the slugger and agent Scott Boras will come after this season, when Teixeira is eligible for free agency.

The Braves also agreed to deals with relievers Mike Gonzalez and Tyler Yates, and infielder Omar Infante.

Gonzalez reached a deal for $2,362,500, basically the same salary he played for last season ($2.35 million). The left-hander pitched in only 18 games in 2007, going 2-0 with two saves and a 1.59 ERA before season-ending elbow surgery. He isn’t expected to return until around the All-Star break.

Infante, acquired from the Chicago Cubs during the winter meetings to bolster Atlanta’s infield depth, will play for $1.4 million this season, a raise of $100,000.

Yates got $800,000 after making $412,500 last season for the Braves. He was 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA and two saves.

Two other Braves filing for arbitration have yet to agree on deals: reliever Rafael Soriano and outfielder Matt Diaz.

Agent Scott Boras represents Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira, who’s expected to command at least $12 million in his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent after next season. The Braves want to re-sign the former Georgia Tech star, who has 17 homers and 55 RBIs in 53 games since being traded to Atlanta. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Braves are on the verge of acquiring Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira. The deal is done, pending a review of the medical records of the players involved, according to major-league sources.
The Braves will receive Teixeira and left-handed reliever Ron Mahay.

The Rangers will receive catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Class A shortstop Elvis Andrus and two additional prospects. One of the prospects is believed to be Class AA left-hander Matt Harrison.

Teixeira, who does not become a free agent until after next season, also would give the Braves lineup protection against the likely departure of center fielder Andruw Jones as a free agent this off-season.

The Angels also made a strong bid for Teixeira, offering first baseman Casey Kotchman and left-hander Joe Saunders. They were willing to include a third player, but not at the level the Rangers were seeking, sources said.