stevieray Posted July 31, 2007 Report Posted July 31, 2007 Hicks: Tex rejected $140M extensionBy Dave SessionsStar-Telegram Staff writerRangers owner Tom Hicks said Tuesday he offered Mark Teixeira and his agent Scott Boras an eight-year, $140 million contract extension in mid-July, but the first baseman turned it down.Hicks said Teixeira’s refusal necessitated the club’s shopping the player and ultimately trading him to the Braves.“We wanted Tex to be a Ranger for life,†Hicks said. “I let him know that if he didn’t accept the offer that we were going to trade him, so he made that decision.â€The deal would have been worth about $18 million a year, plus whatever Teixeira earned in arbitration for next season, Hicks said.Boras, who negotiated the richest contract in baseball with Hicks in 2000, a 10-year, $252 million deal for Alex Rodriguez, is expected to urge his client to pursue free agency and perhaps a deal of similar magnitude after the 2008 season.The Rangers announced Tuesday afternoon that have completed the most talked-about deal of this year’s deadline trades, sending first baseman Mark Teixeira and left-handed reliever Ron Mahay to the Braves for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four prospects.That deal was completed after medical records were reviewed. In addition to Braves shortstop Elvis Andrus and pitchers Matt Harrison and Neftali Feliz, the Rangers also got left-handed reliever Beau Jones, who is 5-0 with a 2.96 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings for the Class-A Rome Braves.Saltalamacchia, 22, was ranked as the Braves’ top prospect by Baseball America before the season. Andrus, a 19-year-old Class-A shortstop was ranked Atlanta’s No. 2 prospect and Harrison, a 22-year-old Double-A lefty, was No. 3. Feliz, a 19-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, is still in rookie ball.Saltalamacchia is expected to join the Rangers in Cleveland for their three-game series starting tonight. A switch hitter, Saltalamacchia made his major-league debut on May 2 and hit .284 with four home runs and 12 RBI for the Braves this season. He caught in 25 games, played first in 14 games and was the designated hitter in two games.Teixeira, 27, was selected fifth overall in the 2001 draft by Texas and reached the majors two years later. He quickly became one of the Rangers’ most consistent and productive players, hitting .283 with 153 home runs and 499 RBI and playing in a club-record 507 consecutive games. Teixeira also won two Gold Gloves with the Rangers.The Braves, hoping to bolster their bullpen, wanted Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson but settled on Mahay, 36, who pitched five seasons with Texas and has a 2.77 ERA in 28 appearances this season.
AJ25 Posted August 1, 2007 Report Posted August 1, 2007 good trade for the braves. very solid 1st basemen
Ruckdad Posted August 1, 2007 Report Posted August 1, 2007 I think the Rangers came out of both of their trades pretty well, especially if Saltalamacchia can stay as the catcher.
AJ25 Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 well you can't blame him, would you wanna play for a team that BAD? lol
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