What The Mark Teixeira Trade Means for Your Favorite Team

The biggest shoe has dropped in the 2007 MLB non-waiver trade deadline. Mark Teixeira is an Atlanta Brave, and teams now have 24 hours to respond. Does anybody have the other shoe to drop? Let's look team by team:

New York Mets: Even though they're in first place with the best record in the National League, the Mets have some small holes that they could do well by filling now that the Braves have upgraded. Options include bullpen help (Chad Cordero and Eric Gagne have been discussed), and an upgrade at second base (Luis Castillo or Mark Loretta, perhaps?) What the Mets need more than anything though is for Carlos Beltran to be healthy, and for Carlos Delgado to continue to heat up after a very slow start to the season.

Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies are one game ahead of the Braves, so they're feeling it a little bit. Gagne would be a great fit here ... he would allow Brett Myers to return to the starting rotation while upgrading a bullpen that may have just lost Ryan Madson for the season. Speedy outfielder Michael Bourn could be used as bait. But in any event, they need pitching, pitching, pitching ... of all sorts

Arizona Diamondbacks: Their latest win streak has vaulted them into the category of buyers instead of sellers, and they made a late play for Teixeira because let's face it, when Eric Byrnes is your best hitter, you hold your breath. With the Braves getting Teixeira, is it finally time for the Snakes to dip into their heralded farm system and get a hitter like Jermaine Dye or Adam Dunn? They've also been linked to Dontrelle Willis in the past, and now may be the time to get him as his struggles have put his trade value at a valley (Willis would be a fine option to replace the recently injured Randy Johnson). But the Diamondbacks' debt makes a trade deadline day tough, and this may be a team that will just decide to go with the kids.

San Diego Padres: Last in baseball in batting average, the Padres could use another hitter. But where? Milton Bradley has been playing the role of savior, hitting .349 since his arrival in San Diego. Mike Cameron and Brian Giles aren't going anywhere, and neither are Khalil Greene and Marcus Giles despite their averages being in the .230's. Their best option is to hold their breath, hope Chris Young returns from injury in top form, and perhaps work out a deal for the Jays' Troy Glaus to play third base. Outside of that, the Pods are on auto pilot.

Chicago Cubs: The Cubs may also stand pat, considering that they're only a game behind the fading Brewers for the division lead. But they also could use a couple of upgrades. Could this be a team that could go out and get Gagne? How much would Cubbie brass be second guessed if they stick with Ryan Dempster or Bobby Howry as their closer? And with Angel Pagan (greatest name ever) manning the outfield along with the injury prone Cliff Floyd, is now the time to think about Ken Griffey Jr.? (Bonus question, would deals like these have already been done if Mark Cuban was the owner?

Colorado Rockies: Yes, the Colorado Rockies. They're only a game behind the Braves, so is it time to become buyers? The Rockies are in it not because of their hitting (they are surprisingly middle of the pack when it comes to offensive statistical categories), but because they're second in the N.L. in fewest walks allowed by their pitching staff. But with their corner outfielders and corner infielders locked in, there aren't a lot of options trade wise offensively outside of maybe a table setter offensively like Castillo. So what's left? If a closer is out there, the Rockies would be wise to grab him with Brian Fuentes injured.

St. Louis Cardinals: Pat Lackey has told you not to count them out, so that's good enough for me. If there's one thing we've learned about the Cardinals in the past is that they're notorious for coming out of nowhere to make that deadline deal that nobody expects them to make (see Mark McGwire and Larry Walker for some recent examples). How about Griffey Jr. to shore up an outfield that's not known for his power (Chris Duncan has 20 HR's, So Taguchi and Juan Encarnacion have nine combined ... and Jim Edmonds is hitting .226). How about Willis to shore up a starting rotation who's best starter is long-time reliever Braden Looper? Would it be smart to buy? Probably not. Could it happen? Stranger things have.

Arm Bash: Beerleaguer