Monday Morning Manager...Mark II edition

No. Spare him the humiliation of having to make a speech.

2) I want Matt Capps, Zach Duke and Xavier Nady for Tex. Nady plays first base.

Yes, roids were not illegel during his time. He played within the MLB rules of his time.
A GOOD team is always a buyer and seller at the same time. However the trick is to know true value of the sell player as well as the value of the buy player.

The Rangers payroll will soon skyrocket or they will go to the bottom of the class. Check up coming free agents that are now on the team that others truly want.

As for buying and selling, SELL, SELL the team hicks, you day dream of a good team instead of building a team.

Like many others, I'm casting my ballot for the only 2 obvious hall of famers this year...

Bobby Witt and Bobby Witt.

What if you could vote the bash brothers in as a combined single player?

Can the Rangers make deals with Minor League teams?? What's that? The Pirates aren't a minor league team?

I consider myself a good strong MLB fan, but I can't say I have ever heard of either of those prospects.

Hicks should make Tex and Young the faces of this franchise for the next 10 years.

In the last year of Tex's contract, I'd definitely make that trade. With the pitching market the way it is - teams are going to have to take their chances with young arms instead of breaking the bank.
Who to replace him with? I don't think you have to have another big bat. We've seen the Rangers lose for most of their history with big bats. Look at Oakland's batting stats last year. They didn't have anyone hit .300. They only had 3 players with 20+ homers and only Thomas had 100+ RBI's. With good pitching - you don't need big bats up and down the lineup.

Kirchmand, you are mistaken. Fay Vincent outlawed steroid use for MLB players in June 1991.
I personally would vote for McGwire but not this year.

If John Daniels feels that Tex's departure is eminent then they could do a lot worse than those two promising young left handers but I'd rather not burn that bridge in the hopes of resigning him. So I vote 'No' on that hypothetical trade.

1. Please don't vote for Mark McGwire...If Pete Rose cant be in the hall than neither can McGwire, Bonds or Raffy...I'm sorry it has to be that way.
2. Why in the satifrac would we trade our best (sorry Michael YOung) player...extend his dang contract so we can win! Pay the boy the 16 million he deserves as one of the game premier young players.

Unless the Rangers are willing to give Tex an 8YR/$160+MM contract following the 2008 season, they should seriously entertain the notion of dealing him now. Teams will be more willing to give value knowing they have Tex for two seasons.

The two Pirates LHPs plus somethign else like Chris Duffy sounds about right. Whether the Pirates are on the cusp on contending in 2007 & 2008 is another issue.

www.faketeams.com

1. No, The only HOF numbers McGwire has is HR. Hopefully, this situation will eliminate the "auto include" based on a single category. If McGwire had a BA of .310 to .330 with an OBA of .400. He was a single stat player and doesn't desire the HOF.

2. For who plays first? I would be happy with Botts at first. As far a Tom Gorzelanny and Paul Maholm. If the Rangers are willing to plug 1 or 2 into the rotation this year and believe the other is within a year or less of being ready. Then yes, I would do it.

1. My visceral reaction to voting Mark McGwire into the HOF is no.

However….I am reminded that Mark McGwire was not an average player who came out of nowhere and starting hitting HR’s – at the time he was drafted he was an NCAA home run champion. Mark was doing the same thing that many other players of his era were doing, not that it justifies what he did. The more I think about the situation, it’s hard to figure why Mark McGwire should be punished for the fact that baseball stuck it’s head in the sand and ignored the steroid issue for such a long time.

And… how can we be sure that right now there aren’t other new substances players are using – ones that are not even looked for in the current testing criteria. I can’t help but wonder, would the hallowed “old time” ball players of earlier generations done the same thing if these kinds substances had been available to them? Pro sports has always been about getting a leg up on the competition any way you can, whether it’s by stealing signs, greasing pitches, using stimulants or numbing the pain with prescription or other type of “medication”

McGwire’s HR chase did almost as much to help baseball’s sagging profile in the 1990’s as Cal Ripken’s consecutive game streak. I don’t like what he did, but he was playing by the rules, as set by MLB at the time. I can’t wait to see what happens when Barry Bonds is eligible for the HOF.

2. If the Rangers are serious about “going for it’ with the current “core” players – then you don’t trade Mark Teixeira – period. You take your chances, hope the Rangers are contenders (doubtful) – and if you trade Teixeira – then you do it next off-season.

JD's managing and Hicks' Pocketbook are the problem here. They have blown it big time this off season. They sat around and waited and waitied to see 1/3 of their line-up go away.Now they've waited and waited to see top pitchers sign with other teams as well. We lost 3 bats in Matthews, Lee, DeRo. Catlanotto replaces DeRo's bat but Kenny Lofton and Nelson Cruz to replace Lee and Matthews? They will not produce as many runs as last years line-up by far so we better have some top tier pitching to make up for it and then some. We had Pidilla and Millwood last year with last years line -up. We need something more on the hill. Oh yeah- We've waiting too long there too. All the pitchers that the rangers were targeting are signed elsewhere except Zito. I doubt we sign him anyway. Even if we do sign him - we have no bull pen to releive. We need pitching there too. Any thoughts?

As a rookie with the A's, I well remember looking at him in the batter's circle, never heard of Mark McGwire then, but all I remember was red hair, narrow and sloped shoulders and a small first baseman. He grew into a behemoth with telephone pole forearms and biceps. We all know why he grew to such an extent: Steroids. My first reaction T.R. is to yell, "Throw the bums out!" Never include a cheater in the Hall of Fame, less it weaken and threaten the future integrity of the Hall.....BUT, My other side says, the man stood at the plate, looked at brushback pitches, curves, fastballs and sliders and still had to put bat on ball and do it successfully for a LONG, LONG time. For that, the hand-eye coordination, and the longevity, and yes, the power needed, for that, I am 51% YES, and 49% NO to include the cheater in the Hall of Fame............on Tex, NO WAY to trade a young, talented, power-hitting, and sterling defensive commodity, and a good guy and good teammate for 2 people we can hardly spell their names. NO to trading Tex. If we do, we need to start all over. Trade Wilkerson, please...for anyone who can put bat on ball.

1. I would have to agree with e.czajka's comments above on McGwire. He has been hitting HRs for a long time. I think that he brought a lot of people back into the stands for the HR chase he and Sosa put on.
It is sad that Major League Baseball had ignored the steroid issue for a long time and now it's just becoming an issue when records start to get broken? How were the records first achieved? Did others do the samething but we choose to say that they do anything to get ahead of the game.

I think it's unfortunate that it has to happen to McGwire but I believe he did 2 things for baseball: revived the past-time game that people grew to love and revealed the true story about how Major League Baseball handles their drug issues.

I'm waiting for when A-Rod gets the opportunity to be voted into the HOF, people may start talking about how bad his contract was for baseball and how he threw off the parity in baseball.

2. Keep Tex and make him a franchise name/face. He is a great source of power from both sides of the plate and great defense. He made his name here, so let him finish here. Same with Young. Pitching will come.

Once you start keeping players out of the HOF for what you think they did, it's a slippery slope. I am in no way condoning what McGwire did, because it's wrong. However, I believe that only those who tested positive should be kept out of the HOF...even then, I don't know that it should be for life for two reasons. #1, there is no proof he was doing it his entire career (Rafael Palmeiro) and #2, I have a hard time crucifying one or two guys, so we can pretend that baseball's HOF is clean of steroid-users and other cheaters. Give me a break.

The ONLY way I trade Mark Teixeira is if it is for a proven ace. He deserves no less, even if it is in the final year of his contract.

Regarding McGwire:
To me, it's simple -- he never tested positive for steroids while playing, so it can't be proven that he did anything wrong (even though it sounds like he did). He'd get my vote. The numbers were there. Sosa would also get my vote, but I'd have to say no to Raffy, as much as it pains me to say it...

Regarding Teixeira:

Nope... I wouldn't trade him, period. Sign him and Young long term, and DO IT NOW!

Teixeira isn't staying here. Get rid of him now, but get something in return. Don't give him away. Heard Padilla passed his physical. Obviously there wasn't a breath test or an arrest involved!!! Ha Ha.

On McGwire: you can't keep a guy out because of what you suspect. That being said, he did go in front of congress and "didn't want to talk about the past." Also, he promised to "assist in any way he could." Has anyone even seen him since? On Tex: the Rangers would need a little more in return, but it's a step in the right direction. This group of players may be able to make the playoffs in a weak division, but that's as far as they'll get. Both Tex and Young have said they want to be on a team that can compete for a championship, and that won't happen unless some more pitching is added. Danks, Hurley, etc. are still a few years away from making a real impact and the contracts for Tex and Young will be done by then. Are JD and Hicks willing to gamble that they can resign both players? I hope not. Other stuff: Soriano trade was horrible, Padilla trade was excellent, Eaton trade was bad even before he got hurt. Nobody really talks about trading German to Kansas City for the rights to Castillo, and then giving up Castillo for Hawgood. German led KC in avg., and Castillo was nearly lights out for Philadelphia. There have been some hidden gems (GMJ, DeRosa). On the whole I haven't been thrilled with JD's tenure. Same with Hicks. Develop a plan and stick with it for more than a couple of years. Sorry for the rant; I've been holding that in since the end of the season.

1) Mark did a lot for the game. He made you want to watch baseball more and everyone was interested in the breaking of the home run record. He brought a lot of non-baseball people to being baseball's biggest fans. Does he get my vote for the HOF? I'd say yes because the steroid era could involve a lot of HOF type players, and it will be considered a dark age in baseball despite some of the most exciting baseball in the history of the game.

2) The trade with the pirates is interesting. I wouldn't make the trade with Tex for a few reasons. Our team doesn't need more prospects. Those guys are amazing prospects, but I'll take my chances with Hurley and Danks. We need proven starting pitching. Very few guys would be worth trading Tex for.

I've heard many people explain the way they determine who gets in and who does not get in based on how that certain player stacks up against those who competed against him during that same era. In the case of McGwire, how are we to know that %100 of players weren't using steroids during the non-testing period? If that kind of behavior was tolerated, then why weren't there more players hitting 50+ hrs a year at 500 ft each? Basically my point is you have to accept that era for what it is, and for that era, Mark McGwire was one of the best in the game.

The only issue I have with the logic "It was legal, they made their bed let them sleep in it". It was not MLB who prevented the rule change. In 1991 MLB made steriods against the rules for the area they can change, the minor leagues.

The reason it wasn't changed at the Major League level was because of the Player's Union. Now why would Donald Fehr and the users vote to make it against the rules? The players had no trouble doing what World War II couldn't do...eliminate the World Series for less significant issues.

How many World Series would have be cancelled before the Union would give in on steriods? Donald Fehr wasn't even afraid of Congress ... until someone whispered what laws Sen. McCain was authoring.

1. Mark McGwire is a very important figure when it comes to Major League Baseball. He basically defines the entire "Home Run Era" and was part of one of the most incredible home run chases ever. After all is said and done, he cheated in order to do so. But so did hundreds of other major league players, including the pitchers he was facing. If I had it my way, I would not vote him in, but enough others would that he made it. That way a prominent figure ends up in the HOF, but I can attest to not placing my vote to a storied cheater - - I can have my cake and eat it too.

2. Personally, I don't believe that Mark Teixeira is happy playing in Texas. If we don't make the playoffs next year (which is probably the case), there is no way he will resign here. And he will make his killing in free agency. If I am the Rangers' GM, I do not want to pay a player who does not want to be here (circa Alex Rodriguez). If we make the playoffs next year, you resign him as an integral part of an offense that is considerably weaker than it has been in the past. If we miss the playoffs badly, you explore the market and trade him for the best offer you can get. Does that mean you complete the Pirates deal? Or you do explore a deal with the Tigers for one of their proven young pitchers and some prospects? Any deal that brings back PROVEN, young talent in the pitching department is the way to go. Then, you resign Michael Young, who is the heart and soul of this team, and dish out the dough for Vernon Wells. No offense to Tex, but I get the vibe a lot that he is better than the Rangers.

As for replacing him at first base, look no further than Nate Gold, who could very well be the next Mark Teixeira.

forgive me if im wrong but mark teixeira has 4 seasons of service time and after this year his contract is up, but he should have an arbitration year left under our control. that being said trade him now while his value is high we would get much more for him now than in his walk year

im reverting back to the dodgers stocked pitching situation and asking for billingsley and loney for tex

or a gorzelanny maholm trade interests me as well

1. Not on the first ballot. While he did not do anything illegal at the time, it still was doing something artificial to enhance his natural performance. He cheated. Just like Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose, cheaters are shown the door.

2. Not in a miilion years! Tex is a rare talent, maybe even HOF. You would have to be crazy or just plain stupid to make that trade. Sign him to a long term contract ASAP. OK, he's got Boras as his agent. A long term contract before his current deal expires won't happen. Get a long term deal done with Young. That might set-up the signing of Wells next year.

1) I don't have a vote for the Hall of Fame, so I'm not sure it really matters what I think. If I did, I would evaluate McGuire's performance in the light of other Hall members. If he lives up to the high performance standards set by those inshrined before him, then he would get my vote.

2) First, I don't feel that Tex and Michael Young's cases should be compared and linked as closely as they always seem to be. It's apples and oranges. In my opinion, Michael Young should never be allowed to play in any uniform that doesn't say Texas on the front.

Tex? Thanks to Rudy Jaramillo and his system, Texas has no problems producing sluggers. Do I really need to revisit all the guys who came up through our system and are now playing elsewhere? But, no, I don't make the Pittsburg trade. I only trade Tex, before the final year of his contract for a young, but proven pitcher and a top level prospect. Bonderman. Peavy. Penny. Willis. Kazmir...etc...not either of the Pirate offerings. Otherwise, the only way Tex leaves is for a signed 5-tool type outfielder...talk to me about Crawford or Beltran and now I'm listening. Otherwise, we've got plenty of pitching that is a year or even less away. There's no reason to feel we have to move Tex, as long as he is still under contract.

1. Maybe not on the first ballot, but Mark McGuire had a hall of fame worthy career. It has never been proven that he used anything other than Andro.

2. I might have considered the Pittsburgh trade if I had not already traded Adrian Gonzalez and for a handful of magic beans, or Travis Hafner for a light-hitting rent-a-catcher.

I have read through every one of the blog entries and I agree with parts of most. Here is my take on McGwire: Let him in! And Raffy too. Don't get me wrong I too hate the act of cheating in anything and am very glad the policies around steroids are changing it. I'm willing to bet everyone of you who said no way to McGwire has cheated in something to get ahead weather it's a game of cards, something job related, or otherwise. There has ALWAYS been cheating in baseball (and all other sports for that matter) and there ALWAYS will be. e.g. Kenny Rogers in the world series. We need to address the issues as they come up and move on. So what are the qualifications of the HOF? I've been there a couple times, it's a great place to spend a day and tell your spouses and kids all about the game and the heros of past generations. However I did notice something. It doesn't have integrity. It's a meuseum! It's players aren't all better than life guys. It's got Ty Cobb...the guy was a jerk on and off the field. Did he cheat? Every chance he got I'm sure. How about the fabled Babe Ruth? That guy was a drunk and also really not an upstanding person....some of you are going to slaughter me over that comment I know but the point is the HOF is for the best players in generations. period. Yes I wish they were all perfect but they can only be perfect in our memories. Pete Rose? Yes he's a jerk (met him in Vegas) but he should be in the HOF too. Raffy....that guy is one of the classiest players out there but he won't get in regardless of what happens to McGwire. That is tragic. The best players of their generations was McGwire there? Yes.

Ok, on to the subject I really wanted to write about. sorry for writing a novel but if you're still reading you must find it somewhat interesting. Trading Tex....no way! for two prospect pitchers? Give me a break guys! Yes we need pitching but do you honestly feel like two prospects for quite possibly the best switch hitter since Mickey Mantle is a fair deal? Those two are no better than what we have on the farm right now. We can, and have competed quite well with somewhat suspect pitching. We have never made it with suspect batters. As for the person who said Tex was a product of Rudy...aren't they all in one form or another? Michael Young came from Toronto as a somewhat fringe prospect and he has become a great hitter. Mark Teixiera came from Georgia Tech and was touted by Peter Gammons (a guy who knows a thing or two about baseball) as the greatest college batter EVER! That is high praise from a guy who has seen a lot of baseball. We need to lock up Tex and Young to long term deals (do not let either get away) and rely on our young pitchers to progress. Oh one more thing about Tex...Rudy didn't teach him to be the 2 time gold glove winner that he is already in his young career and he's only 26! Time for a breakout. In my wildest dreams here is what I would do for the Rangers to compete this year and years to come: Sign Zito. Give him the 6 years and 100 mil he's after. Then we have a starting staff of Millwood, Zito, Padilla, Tejada and possibly Mulder. It also gives our young guys a little more seasoning in Triple A and they are great insurance options should one of those guys go down. So our rotation is basically set for 3-4 years. Sign Young and Tex to multi year deals (Tex does like to play here or he wouldn't have signed the 2 year extension he already did). Then we need to go get either Vernon Wells (my vote) or Andruw Jones via trade. We can afford (if we sign Zito) to trade 2 of our young SP and still have a good core coming. I'd trade Volquez and Diamond first Danks third and Hurley last. If we did this our rotation would be a force, and our offense would continue to be a force. Tex needs a slugger ala Wells or Jones to be at his best. Look what he did after Carlos Lee came to town vs before he was here. We have a great core of players here still. Blalock, Young, Kinsler and Tex are you kidding me? Could you ask for a better infield? Last thought...if we don't get Zito and or Mulder let's turn it over to the young guys and let them take their lumps as the Marlins and Detroit have done. The cost of pitchers is rediculous this year Meche for 55 mil? So young pitchers will be a big commodity as they get closer and closer to the show. We might even be able to squeak out Wells for one of them at mid season....

1. TR, I don't envy you having to vote for or against Mark McGwire. I've heard all the arguments for and against, and I'm still not sure myself whether I'd vote for him or not. Probably the biggest problem I have with him is his refusal to talk to Congress last year. I think I'd withhold my vote for him until he finally decided to come clean and either admit or deny taking steroids. He's trying to have his cake and eat it too by refusing to talk about what he did or didn't do.

2. What to do with Tex is another interesting question. I don't like the way his numbers dropped off this year offensively. While I think part of the problem was him not having protection behind him in the lineup the first part of the season, the way he essentially disappeared bothers me. I think I want to see how he plays this next season before I go out and do a deal with him. If he returns to his performance from '05, then do a deal. If he looks more like he did at the beginning of last season, then I'd think about trading him. I think I agree with hdizmond that I would rather have a Peavy or Kazmir type rather than two unproven pitchers (the Rangers already have that with Danks, et al), and would use Botts or Gold at first. The only other intriguing offer I could come up with would be Tex for Adam LaRoche and Tim Hudson (not that I think Atlanta would do that, but with the Rangers maybe signing Mulder and Zito, why not put Hudson on that same staff as well?)

1. dont care

2. No, that trade sounds like a trading deadline deal for a team not going to the playoffs sending a proven bat to a contender, not an off season move. We have a staff and a half of unproven starters, why add two more. This is already shaping up to be the least powerful lineup that Texas has put on the field in recent memory. Unless this they get Zito, this lineup has no way to produce enough runs to carry the pitching staff. Plus why lose a gold glove at first that makes the entire rest of the infield better just by having him there.

1. He should be in, maybe not right away though.

2. I have been a fan of the Texas Rangers for the last 10 years. I've seen players like Ivan Rodriguez, Chris young and Travis Hafner among others leave for next to nothing. But the rangers brass has also made some worthy trades. Remember last season when everyone scoffed at the David Dellucci deal because he was an "integral" part of the team but what was brought in, an "unproven" player. Well that unproven player is now -pending a Zito- deal our number 3 starter, and a pretty decent one at that. What about Juan Gonzalez who is possibly the greatest hitter ever in to don a rangers uniform. When he was traded he brought in some impact players like Cordero, Kapler, Catalanotto. The point that im trying to make is that trading star players can bring some important pieces in return even if it doesnt look like it at first. Yes, I know neither of these guys were as good an all around player or as young as tex is but that just means he should be worth more in return. And while some of you guys have some great insight on the rangers pitching situation, I have to disagree with the notion that the 2 players from the pirates are as unproven as our DVD trio. While they arent household names yet, at least Tom Gorzanny and Paul Maholm are pitching in the big leagues. - And its not because the pirates have no else. They have real gems in Zach Duke and matt capps.- They're not stuck in Double A like Hurley and Diamond. Judging from what the Rangers have and haven't done in the past few years - ala Blalock and Josh Beckett- they could do much, much worse. And for all the people who think that the Rangers will sign Zito this year, Vernon Wells next year and still have enough money to resign Texeira or Young after their contract years then im sorry to inform you but, they're not the Yankees, thank goodness. So while the guys that the Pirates are offering might not be great the Rangers need to do something before it is too late. They should part ways with texeira, bring in some good young talent, which doesnt all have to be pitching, and free up some cap space and go after Vernon Wells next summer. Because I guarantee if the rangers can show that they are contenders this year, Wells will have Texas high atop his list of possible suitors.

*Alright guys spoiler alert.*
You heard it here first. If you have been paying attention to any of the goings on with the Pirates, which you probably havent because, well their the pirates.You might have noticed that a sure fire deal that they had with the atlanta braves for Adam Laroche has just fallen through. Could that be because the pirates are more interested in Texeira than we all thought. YES!!! Another thing to think about is, why would they sign Eric Gagne, sure he was a great closer 3 yrs ago but why sign him now. The rangers already have a great closer and an underrated bullpen. I think Gagne is being used as bait. Or they might decide to keep him and dangle Otsuka. In any event its gonna be one of the closers and Texeira for Mike Gonzales, Zach Duke and Xavier Nady. Great trade in my opinion.

No comment on McGwire.

On trading Tex, I would say wait until at least next offseason, especially if we do somehow land Zito in the next few weeks or months. And us signing Gagne might make Otsuka expendable if he can get back to anything approaching his old form in 2007.

As everyone knows, we already have top-flight pitching prospects in Hurley and Danks, and if you're going to trade Tex for more pitching prospects, it better be ones who are closer to the majors than those 2, because it wouldn't make much sense to trade for guys who will just be competing with Danks for the 4th or 5th rotation spot when he becomes major league-ready.

Trading him for a Beltran makes even less sense because if your concern is that the team wouldn't be able to sign Teixeira for what he'll command in free agency, what's the sense in trading for a guy who already makes as much, if not more, than Tex will get?

I wouldn't trade him for anything less than a #2 starter, or a couple of prospects who project that high in th near future.

1) couldn't begin to care less whether McGwire gets into the HOF or not
2) no way i trade Tex for those two mooks mentioned..not sure i'd trade Tex at all, but, with the caveat being that it becomes clear that the Rangers can't sign Tex to a long term contract for what passes for reasonable $$ in this market, i'd have to insist on a proven #1 starter and a pitching prospect and hitting prospect in return...and Zito does NOT qualify as a proven #1 starter, i cannot for the life of me figure out why Hicks has his knickers knotted up over Zito, the guys a below average velocity, fly ball pitcher who would wither and die in Ameriquest...we should have gone after Petitte and/or Jennings and spent the Zito money on signing Tex and MY...

1. I don't care

2. I see a short window before Tex goes for more money under a bigger spotlight, and maybe Young as well. So, go for the short term. Zito wants about 16.5 million a year for 6 years. Give him 20 - 22 million for 2 years. He gets extra pay for a short deal and is still young enough to go long term with us or someone else. After two years we may have won it all and he and Tex can resign or move on. Whatever happens by that time those young arms in the minors should be here, if they are as good as touted, and then we become the next Tigers of 2006.

1) I would not vote for Mark McGwire. Stats are only part of the equation. A player must also elevate the game, not degrade it. Just ask Pete Rose.
2) While the proposed trade with Pittsburgh would be a good one, it's not realistic. At best we would get one major league ready prospect with a big upside and some other guys with the word potential inked across their foreheads. Tex is our man if we want to build a winning franchise, our best bet is to deal some of our prospects packaged together for a frontline starter. Is it too early to trade Gagne?

1. As much as I may or may not vote for big mac, he played in the steroid era where pitchers were using steroids as well. It seems that ALOT of people were using steroids and McGwire was one of the best of that era. He is a HOFamer. And, if he is worthy of it, he is worthy of it now. Although, it is a tough decision, he should make the hall.

2. I would not trade Tex, I was screaming to trade Tex last year because you had a ML ready 1st baseman in A. Gonzalez, but now you have no one to replace Tex. We don't have the big offense that everbody thinks we do. We can't afford to lose Tex's bat, especially if we don't get a big bat in return. If you trade him with the Pirates in a package deal of Tex and Aki, then you would have to get Bay and Duke/Gorzellany/Maholm. Tex is also becoming a perennial gold glover at 1st. That is something you have to consider as well. Who would play first? Botts...lol, the deal can't be done, but we'll see because we can't afford Tex with Boras as his agent.

Mark McGwire = NO FREAKING WAY!!!!!

I wouldn't trade Texeira to Pittsburgh for two spare pitchers and get fleeced the way they did by the Whitesox.

If you are going to deal Texeira you had better get the farm in return and I don't mean the pigs either.

I know he is a Boras guy and he probably will end up leaving. So, yeah trade him while his value is highest and get as much quality in return for him.