Dallas Blog was the first to say it was time to trade Mark Teixeira and 10 teams were listed as potential suitors for his services. One of the teams mentioned was the Atlanta Braves, who are reportedly in serious discussions with the Rangers for Teixeira and perhaps a reliever.

Back on May 30, I listed three players I had interest in getting from the Braves in a deal for Teixeira: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison and Jo-Jo Reyes. Here is another look at each player:

Jarrod Saltalamacchia – “Salty” is blocked by Brian McCann at catcher in Atlanta and could be a replacement for Tex at first for the Rangers along with serving as Gerald Laird’s backup. He was rated as the team’s best prospect this year by Baseball America after being named the second-best prospect in 2006.

Saltalamacchia is a switch-hitter who hit .309-6-13 in 22 games at Double-A Mississippi before getting a call-up to the majors where he’s hitting .284-4-12 in 141 at-bats. He is only 22 years old and in case you’re wondering, Saltalamacchia is indeed the longest last name in baseball history.

Matt Harrison - Harrison was ranked by Baseball America as the Braves’ best pitching prospect and third-best prospect overall at the beginning of this year. He’s a lefty with a good curveball and changeup. Harrison also controls his fastball well, drawing comparisons to former Braves’ great Tom Glavine.

Harrison is 5-7 with a 3.39 ERA, 78 strikeouts, 34 walks in 116.2 innings at Double-A Mississippi this season. He turns 22 years old August 16 and projects as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter.

Jo-Jo Reyes – Reyes still isn’t among the best pitching prospects in the game, but he has jumped past Harrison as the team’s best pitching prospect. He had a good start at Double-A, posting an 8-1 record with a 3.56 ERA, 71 strikeouts and 35 walks in 73.1 innings. Reyes, a big southpaw with a deceptive delivery, was then promoted to Triple-A Richmond where he’s 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA.

MLB executives believe the Rangers are intent on trading Mark Teixeira by the deadline and the Atlanta Braves are the frontrunner, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. A deal with Atlanta would center on Saltalamacchia and could include Harrison or Kyle Davis along with Elvis Andrus if Texas is willing to include a reliever, according to The DMN’s Evan Grant. Grant says the Braves are unlikely to part with Reyes.

The Braves are excited about the possibility of acquiring Teixeira, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The story also mentions Saltalamacchia as the key to the deal, Reyes probably isn’t available and Andrus could be included if the Rangers included a reliever in the deal.

Here is a look at Andrus and Davies:

Elvis Andrus – His stats (.236-3-36-23 SB at Class-A) won’t blow you away, but Andrus has the kind of athletic ability scouts drool over. He turns just 19 years old August 26 and was selected to play in the Futures Game at this year’s All-Star Game in San Francisco. Andrus, a shortstop, was rated as the Braves’ second-best prospect at the beginning of the year by Baseball America and was number three in 2006.

Kyle Davies – Davies is one of those guys with great stuff who hasn’t been able to get results at the major-league level. He is still young at 23, but has struggled in three seasons in the majors, posting a 14-21 record, 6.15 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 237 career innings. Despite its need for starting pitching, Atlanta recently sent him down to Triple-A.

Jon Daniels appears to be headed down the right track and my prayers may be answered. If he can swap Teixeira and someone like Ron Mahay, Joaquin Benoit or C.J. Wilson for Saltalamacchia, Harrison and Andrus, it would be a great deal for the Rangers.

Other teams showing interest include the Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Red Sox and Giants. I mentioned these teams as well when taking a look at trade partners and the Dodgers were top on the list.

Evan Grant says the Dodgers are looking at Eric Gagne or Joaquin Benoit to go with Tex in a deal for first baseman James Loney, outfielder Andre Ethier and possibly Clayton Keyshaw. He wrote “it's not certain the Dodgers would include a prospect of his [Kershaw’s] caliber as a third player.”

I agree. That’s why Kershaw, a left-handed pitcher from Highland Park, should be the focus of the deal instead of the third player. If I’m Daniels, I go after a package headed by Kershaw and ask for center fielder Matt Kemp. Ethier doesn’t interest me much and while Loney has been swinging a hot bat, he likely won’t be much of a power hitter and his defense is suspect.

No matter where Teixeira ends up, it’s beginning to look like he’s a goner and he’ll likely be the biggest name to change uniforms at the July 31 deadline.

Keep working the phones, Jon. Get the best deal you can and don’t think twice about pulling the trigger.

Look out for the final installment of my midseason reports where I’ll break down the AL West and give the latest trade rumors for the rest of the Rangers’ players.

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