Bravesworld.com | Atlanta Braves News, braves Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>Let's get one thing straight: The Atlanta Braves are not considering trading first baseman Mark Teixeira. At least not yet.</div><p></p>But here's today's "what-if" proposition: If the Braves made Teixeira available, how interested would the Los Angeles Angels be?<p><div class="in_info_box whats_hot_box"><div class="in_info_box_content whats_hot_box_content"><h4 class="gray_dots">Must-read:</h4><ul><li>Kahn: Are Celtics a team for ages?</li><li>Perry: Who's the next manager to go?</li><li>Vote for your favorite Yankee moment</li></ul><h4 class="gray_dots">Must-see:</h4><ul><li>Video central: Lakers-Celtics finals</li><li>Tiger beats Rocco in Open playoff</li></ul><div class="more">View more videos >></div><br clear="all"/><h4 class="gray_dots">Thursday's action</h4><br><ul><li>Kemp powers Dodgers over Reds</li><li>Joba fans nine; Yanks top Pads</li><li>Twins jump out early, blast Nats</li><li>Brewers notch wild win over Jays</li><li>Teahen's 3 RBIs lift Royals over Cards</li><li>ChiSox win slug fest with Pirates</li><li>Braves rally, then fall to Rangers in 9th</li><li>Upton lifts D-backs past A's with HR</li><li>O's hand Astros eighth straight loss</li><li>Rays first to sweep MLB-best Cubs</li><li>Rockies earn sweep of Indians</li></ul><h4 class="gray_dots">More on MLB:</h4><br><ul><li>Rosenthal: Randolph firing shameful</li><li>Perry: Picking All-Star starters</li><li>Ringolsby: Chipper's run can't last</li><li>Rosenthal: It's time for a break</li></ul><h4 class="gray_dots">Photo gallery:</h4><br><ul><li>Griffey through the years</li><br><li>Summer action heats up</li><br></ul><h4 class="gray_dots">Greatest Yankee moments:</h4><br><img src="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8195368_52_2.jpg" align="right" source="false" author="false" style="padding-left:2px; padding-right:5px"/>The All-Star Game (July 15, FOX) will be the last one played at Yankee Stadium. As we say goodbye to the "House," <strong>Dayn Perry</strong> busts out his list of the best moments from Yankee lore. <b>POLL: Vote for your favorite!</b></li><br></div><div class="in_info_box_btm"></div></div><p><li> No doubt the Mariners will want to speak with Indians assistant general manager Chris Antonetti about their GM opening, but there is no guarantee that the interest would be mutual. Antonetti balked at the Cardinals' opening last off-season, and while the Mariners' job is attractive, some rival executives are wary of M's CEO Howard Lincoln. Antonetti is in line to eventually replace Mark Shapiro with the Indians, with Shapiro likely ascending to club president. A's assistant G.M. David Forst is in a similar position under Billy Beane.<p><li> Francisco Liriano's last four starts at Class AAA: IP 25 2/3, ER 7, BB 6, K 26. The Twins say they want Liriano to stay in the majors for good once they promote him, but they might have an ulterior motive for keeping him in the minors: Delaying his first year of salary arbitration. Liriano already has been in the minors too long to gain the necessary three years of service by the end of the season, and he soon will be ineligible to qualify as a Super Two player as well.<p><li> The potential bidding war for free-agent right-hander Freddy Garcia gets more fascinating by the day. News of the Tigers' interest no doubt will alarm the White Sox; Garcia is close with Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, but also quite friendly with Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen, another fellow Venezuelan. The Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Indians and Rays are among the other clubs interested in Garcia, who is trying to make a comeback from shoulder surgery and could throw for teams in early July.<p><li> The Red Sox indeed might be interested in Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham if designated hitter David Ortiz is out for the rest of the season, but the Marlins' desire to move Willingham is minimal. The Marlins view Willingham as part of their future, even though he is arbitration-eligible at the end of the season. That opinion could change if the Red Sox were willing to part with someone like left-hander Jon Lester, but for Boston clearly that would be too high a price.<p><li> If the last-place Blue Jays end up as sellers, right-hander A.J. Burnett will not be their only attractive part. Shortstop David Eckstein, outfielder/DH Matt Stairs and catchers Gregg Zaun and Rod Barajas could appeal to contenders. All can be free agents at the end of the season. Burnett can opt out of his deal, and Zaun will fall short of the 270 games he needed to play in 2007 and '08 to vest his $3.75 million option for '09.<p><li> Now that the Padres have summoned third baseman/left fielder Chase Headley from Class AAA, catcher Nick Hundley might not be far behind. Josh Bard, recovering from a high ankle sprain, likely is out until the All-Star break. His replacement, Michael Barrett, is batting only .183-.261-.267. The Cardinals made a quick inquiry on Barrett after Yadier Molina suffered his concussion, but did not need to advance the discussions. Hundley, meanwhile, is starting to hit at Class AAA.<p><li> Were the Diamondbacks too quick to trade outfielder Trot Nixon to the Mets? Perhaps, considering that the team's next move could be to demote right fielder Justin Upton, who batted only .216 in May and is 3-for-36 in June. If Upton is demoted, the Diamondbacks could go with Eric Byrnes in right, Conor Jackson in left and Chad Tracy at first, or Byrnes in left and a combination of Alex Romero and Jeff Salazar in right. Nixon had a .995 OPS at Class AAA with the Diamondbacks.<p></p>

Let's get one thing straight: The Atlanta Braves are not considering trading first baseman Mark Teixeira. At least not yet.

But here's today's "what-if" proposition: If the Braves made Teixeira available, how interested would the Los Angeles Angels be?

Must-read:

Kahn: Are Celtics a team for ages?
Perry: Who's the next manager to go?
Vote for your favorite Yankee moment

Must-see:

Video central: Lakers-Celtics finals
Tiger beats Rocco in Open playoff

View more videos >>

Thursday's action

Kemp powers Dodgers over Reds
Joba fans nine; Yanks top Pads
Twins jump out early, blast Nats
Brewers notch wild win over Jays
Teahen's 3 RBIs lift Royals over Cards
ChiSox win slug fest with Pirates
Braves rally, then fall to Rangers in 9th
Upton lifts D-backs past A's with HR
O's hand Astros eighth straight loss
Rays first to sweep MLB-best Cubs
Rockies earn sweep of Indians

Photo gallery:

Griffey through the years

Summer action heats up

Greatest Yankee moments:

The All-Star Game (July 15, FOX) will be the last one played at Yankee Stadium. As we say goodbye to the "House," Dayn Perry busts out his list of the best moments from Yankee lore. POLL: Vote for your favorite!

No doubt the Mariners will want to speak with Indians assistant general manager Chris Antonetti about their GM opening, but there is no guarantee that the interest would be mutual. Antonetti balked at the Cardinals' opening last off-season, and while the Mariners' job is attractive, some rival executives are wary of M's CEO Howard Lincoln. Antonetti is in line to eventually replace Mark Shapiro with the Indians, with Shapiro likely ascending to club president. A's assistant G.M. David Forst is in a similar position under Billy Beane.

Francisco Liriano's last four starts at Class AAA: IP 25 2/3, ER 7, BB 6, K 26. The Twins say they want Liriano to stay in the majors for good once they promote him, but they might have an ulterior motive for keeping him in the minors: Delaying his first year of salary arbitration. Liriano already has been in the minors too long to gain the necessary three years of service by the end of the season, and he soon will be ineligible to qualify as a Super Two player as well.

The potential bidding war for free-agent right-hander Freddy Garcia gets more fascinating by the day. News of the Tigers' interest no doubt will alarm the White Sox; Garcia is close with Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, but also quite friendly with Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen, another fellow Venezuelan. The Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Indians and Rays are among the other clubs interested in Garcia, who is trying to make a comeback from shoulder surgery and could throw for teams in early July.

The Red Sox indeed might be interested in Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham if designated hitter David Ortiz is out for the rest of the season, but the Marlins' desire to move Willingham is minimal. The Marlins view Willingham as part of their future, even though he is arbitration-eligible at the end of the season. That opinion could change if the Red Sox were willing to part with someone like left-hander Jon Lester, but for Boston clearly that would be too high a price.

If the last-place Blue Jays end up as sellers, right-hander A.J. Burnett will not be their only attractive part. Shortstop David Eckstein, outfielder/DH Matt Stairs and catchers Gregg Zaun and Rod Barajas could appeal to contenders. All can be free agents at the end of the season. Burnett can opt out of his deal, and Zaun will fall short of the 270 games he needed to play in 2007 and '08 to vest his $3.75 million option for '09.

Now that the Padres have summoned third baseman/left fielder Chase Headley from Class AAA, catcher Nick Hundley might not be far behind. Josh Bard, recovering from a high ankle sprain, likely is out until the All-Star break. His replacement, Michael Barrett, is batting only .183-.261-.267. The Cardinals made a quick inquiry on Barrett after Yadier Molina suffered his concussion, but did not need to advance the discussions. Hundley, meanwhile, is starting to hit at Class AAA.

Were the Diamondbacks too quick to trade outfielder Trot Nixon to the Mets? Perhaps, considering that the team's next move could be to demote right fielder Justin Upton, who batted only .216 in May and is 3-for-36 in June. If Upton is demoted, the Diamondbacks could go with Eric Byrnes in right, Conor Jackson in left and Chad Tracy at first, or Byrnes in left and a combination of Alex Romero and Jeff Salazar in right. Nixon had a .995 OPS at Class AAA with the Diamondbacks.