MLB Mid-Season Hot Stove [J. Mark English]

The trading deadline is approaching ever so fast, and teams are making moves to help assure their post season hopes.

We'll start of with the New York Mets. They moved to bring in a solid second baseman to help fill the void of injured Jose Valentine. Matt Cerrone of Metsblog tells us the latest:

In a conference call a few moments ago, the Mets officially announced the acquisition of 2B Luis Castillo from the Twins in exchange for Double-A C Drew Butera and Single-A OF Dustin Martin....

…i have yet to talk with a minor-league reporter, expert, etc, who does not side with the Mets in this deal…if for no other reason than, most people would actually rather the second-round draft pick over butera and martin, which is the compenatory pick the Mets will get at minimum should castillo leave via free agency…and i totally agree…

…in addition to the pick, the Mets get a Gold-Glove second baseman to either a) start for the Mets, should Ruben Gotay stumble, or b) be a defensive replacement, shoud gotay continue to hit…also, by acquiring castillo, Damion Easley will essentially become the team’s other back-up outfielder.

The team chasing the Mets for the NL East crown, the Atlanta Braves, were not to be outdone. Dayn Perry of Fox Sports updates us on their moves:

What figures to be the biggest trade leading up to this year's non-waiver deadline has already gone down.

We speak, of course, of the deal first reported by Ken Rosenthal that sent first baseman Mark Teixeira and lefty reliever Ron Mahay from the Texas Rangers to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop prospect Elvis Andrus and a pair of pitching prospects (probably including Double-A lefty Matt Harrison).

That's a headline-grabbing deal, and it's also one that puts the New York Mets and every team with a hope of entering the NL wild-card fray officially on notice.