In what will no doubt be the biggest deal of this year’s deadline, Texas slugger Mark Teixeira will be terrorizing the NL east with the Atlanta Braves. The deal will send Teixeira and reliever Ron Mahay to Hotlanta in exchange for uber-prospect and all-name team catcher Jarrod Saltalamachia, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Perez and a player to be named later. This deal should put some fear into the eyes of the division leading Mets and second-place Phillies although they did make some less-significant moves to improve themselves pre-deadline. Both teams brought in new second basemen via trade; the Mets upgrading over Ruben Gotay to Luis Castillo and the Phillies bringing in Tadahito Iguchi from the White Sox to replace the injured Chase Utley while he rehabs a broken hand.
The Braves weren’t done though and also brought in Octavio Dotel to help out in the bullpen for Kyle Davies. Dotel has been injured this season but is a good arm to have, especially if closer Bob Wickman breaks down.
It’s also looking like the Yankees big name acquisition of this deadline is going to be Wilson Betitmet. Pretty weak in comparison to what they’ve done in the past put at least they’ll be filling a need. Well, sort of. Actually, not really, don’t they need help somewhere besides a utility infielder? Anyway, the Dodgers get average reliever from the Yanks in the exchange.
And where oh where will Eric Gagne go? That’s the big question now with several teams in the mix.
**UPDATE**
So it turns out that Boston felt like making an over-the-top move by acquiring Eric Gagne from Texas for Kason Gabbard, David Murphy and Engel Beltre. This move only bolsters what is already the best bullpen in baseball, but honestly, I think it was a move to spite the Yankees who were also persuing the Canadian closer.