Yesterday I looked at some trades to rate the winners and losers from my completely speculative point of view. Since there were a few more trades today, I figure why not keep things rolling and spin the wheel again.

Trade
Atlanta Braves acquire: Mark Teixeira (MLB - 1B), Ron Mahay (MLB - LH RP)
Texas Rangers acquire: Jarrod Saltalamacchia (MLB - C, 1B), Matt Harrison (AA - LH SP), Elvis Andrus (A - SS), Neftali Feliz (Rookie Ball - RH SP)

My take: The Braves pulled in the best player on the market. Teixeira will definitely help their lineup immediately, and if any other team (other than his hometown Orioles) has a chance at signing the switch hitter it might be the Braves considering that Mark did choose to go to college at Georgia Tech and might feel somewhat at home there in Atlanta. Mahay is an okay, but not great reliever; but he is at least at the major league level. As for Texas, I don’t think they had to trade Teixeira at all considering he won’t be a free agent until after 2008, but considering that they just pulled all of Atlanta’s top three prospects in the deal, I’d have to agree with pulling the trigger on this one. Texas wasn’t going to be going anywhere this year, Salty will be a solid backstop for years to come, and the opening might get Jason Botts a look at 1B if they don’t keep Salty there at least until they figure out what to do with Gerald Laird.

Winner: I think that the Rangers are clear winners here. In recent years I think the importance of a deep farm system has become apparent and the Rangers just pulled top prospects out of a farm system that has proven results. True the Braves are better off right now, but the Rangers in one deal just helped themselves for the next 5+ years.

Trade
Atlanta Braves acquire: Octavio Dotel (MLB - RH CL)
Kansas City Royals acquire: Kyle Davies (MLB - RH SP)

My take: The Braves looking Tampa-like get help in the bullpen twice in the same day. Dotel is a proven closer who was no longer needed with the emergence of Soria and Greinke; honestly the Royals have better uses for $5million in 2008. The Royals get Davies who has struggled the past few seasons and probably projects to be at best a number three or four starter.

Winner: Royals. I don’t like Dotel all that much and like Davies worse. If Davies gives the Royals anything worthwhile they got something for essentially nothing.

Trade
Minnesota Twins acquire: Drew Butera (AA - C) and Dustin Martin (A - OF)
Kansas City Royals acquire: Luis Castillo (MLB - 2B)

My take: The Twins didn’t get much here, but they did open the door for prospect Alexi Casillo who is, essentially, a young Louis Castillo.

Winner: The Mets are serious contenders for the title this year and Castillo has won it before. They didn’t give up much and I think they took this round.

Trade
Philadelphia Phillies acquire: Kyle Lohse (MLB - RH SP)
Cincinnati Reds acquire: Matt Maloney (AA - LH SP)

My take: Just like the Mets trade, I think the Phils got a decent player at a lower price. Maloney started the season 7th in terms of the organization’s pitching prospects and thus didn’t look like he was going to be a long-term factor in the Phils rotation. Lohse’s peripherals aren’t great: he’s a guy who can eat up some innings until they get healthy.

Winner: Lohse hasn’t really been great since 2003 so at least the Reds got the “Class A South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year in 2006″ out of the deal… so game goes to Cinci.

As of now I think that’s it… if there’s more action tomorrow (which I think there will be) I’ll be extremely repetitive and weigh in on those as well. It looks like as soon as the major deal was made though (Teixeira), that everyone else felt okay jumping into the waters.