Baseball

Youth Movement

Is Texas getting fair value for Mark Teixeira ? With a haul of prospects from the Braves, it would appear so

WITH YOUNG, inexpensive talent at a premium, the Rangers got excellent value on Monday as they nailed down a six-player blockbuster trade that would bring them 22-year-old switch-hitting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and an exciting pair of prospects, shortstop Elvis Andrus , 18, and pitcher Neftali Feliz, 19, in exchange for slugger Mark Teixeira . (The deal, which also sent reliever Ron Mahay to Atlanta and a player to be named later to Texas , was pending only a review of medical records.)

Teixeira excels offensively (averaging 38 home runs over the past three seasons) and defensively (he has won two Gold Gloves). More important, he has a year left on a relatively inexpensive contract. According to Baseball Prospectus 's Marginal Value Above Replacement Player (MORP) statistic—an evaluation of a player's worth based on his projected performance and recent contracts signed in the free-agent market—Teixeira is valued at approximately $20 million in 2007 and $22 million in '08. Prorated over the balance of his contract, he'll provide about $27 million worth of value while actually earning only slightly more than $11 million.

But Saltalamacchia could be an even bigger bargain. Baseball Prospectus already rates him as a $10 million player. Consider that between Double A and the majors this year he had hit a combined .293 through Sunday, with a .360 on-base percentage, 10 homers and a .486 slugging percentage—stats similar to those in a good season for Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek , who makes $10 million a year. And Saltalamacchia is just getting started. By BP's calculations, the Rangers are due to save more than $50 million. "You have to give Texas credit," says an AL executive. "Salty could hit 35 homers in that park." And in Andrus they add a shortstop who has the look of a young Miguel Cabrera .

The Angels had made a solid offer to the Rangers of first baseman Casey Kotchman , 24, and pitcher Joe Saunders , 26, but balked when asked to throw in either Nick Adenhart, Howie Kendrick or Brandon Wood . Instead they went back to their best offer with Atlanta . Bottom line: The Braves, 4 1/2 games behind the Mets in the NL East race, are stronger with the addition of Teixeira to a lineup that includes Andruw and Chipper Jones . The Rangers , who probably would have lost Teixeira to free agency after next season, instead have a brighter future.