ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Mark Teixeira and Eric Gagne followed Kenny Lofton out of Texas, leaving the last-place Rangers to rebuild yet again.
Rangers owner Tom Hicks revealed after Tuesday’s trades that Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras, rejected a $140 million, eight-year extension that the team offered two weeks ago to the power-hitting first baseman.
“We told Boras that if our offer was turned down, we would trade Tex now if we received an appropriate offer, or during the off season if not,” Hicks said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Pitcher Kevin Millwood said the players had “mixed emotions” to the deals.
“The trade for Tex kind of had to happen, I think,” Millwood said. “He just wasn’t going to re-sign here. At least we got some good players. Gagne, I kind of felt we had a chance to sign him. I’m a little more surprised, but we move on.”
Teixeira, who can become a free agent after the 2008 World Series, was dealt to Atlanta with left-hander Ron Mahay for rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four prospects: shortstop Elvis Andrus, left-hander Matt Harrison, left-hander Beau Jones and right-hander Neftali Feliz.
Gagne, eligible for free agency after this year’s World Series, was sent to Boston for left-hander Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre.
“This is not a tear down,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “At no point did I ever talk to any clubs about Millwood or Michael Young or any of the other players whose names were rumored out there. We believe in the veteran core of this team. “
Daniels, who dealt Lofton to Cleveland last week for minor league catcher Max Ramirez, said the trades were part of a long-term strategy to build around core players such as Young and Millwood. Texas hasn’t been to the playoffs since 1999.
“It’s an admission that we recognize where we are in the standings,” Daniels said. “We had two choices as far as direction. We wanted to make sure that we built something that was sustainable.”
Saltalamacchia was rated Atlanta’s top prospect by Baseball America before the season, with Andrus second, Harrison third, Jones 14th and Feliz 18th.
Losing Teixeira marked the third time this decade the Rangers traded an All-Star power hitter. Texas dealt Juan Gonzalez in 2000 and Alex Rodriguez in 2004.
Notes: The Rangers activated 2B Ian Kinsler from the 15-day DL after he missed 26 games with a stress fracture in his left foot, and they recalled LHP A.J. Murray from Triple-A Oklahoma. INF Desi Relaford was designated for assignment.
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AP Sports Writers Tom Withers and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.
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