Here's a rundown of the teams that are believed to have shown the most interest:

• Dodgers. GM Ned Colletti has sought additional power for months and has to decide whether to surrender touted first-base prospect James Loney. The Rangers surely would want top pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw (who happens to be from Dallas), but L.A. would be unlikely to let him go. The Dodgers do have other prospects to deal, and Colletti showed last summer that he isn't afraid to shake things up.

• Angels. Like their geographic rival 45 minutes up the I-5 Freeway, they also have young players to dangle, including a first-base replacement in Casey Kotchman. However, one competing GM, knowing their recent history, speculated, "I doubt [Angels GM Bill Stoneman] will pull the trigger on anything.'' Stoneman's past does suggest that he'll stand pat, although he apparently was willing to make a trade for Miguel Tejada before Orioles owner Peter Angelos killed it. But the Angels, whose lead over the Mariners in the AL West is a mere two games, should know this much: They could be one cleanup hitter from being a World Series favorite.

• Orioles. They'd probably consider surrendering talented, underachieving Daniel Cabrera and might well have the makings of a deal. Plus, their chances to keep Teixeira beyond '08 are enhanced by his personal preference to play at home. However, there's scuttlebutt that new club president Andy MacPhail is hesitant to recommend such a large long-term expenditure.

• Red Sox. They have young pitchers that would interest Texas, such as Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester, whose return Monday after battling cancer was emotional and successful. The comeback from cancer might also have served as a showcase, according to reports. The Sox also have top outfield prospect Jacoby Ellsbury.

• Yankees. The Yanks have said they won't trade any of their top pitching prospects, including Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy or Alan Horne, so they look like a long shot.

• Tigers. It's doubtful they'd part with top young pitcher Andrew Miller or big-time outfield prospect Cameron Maybin. First baseman Sean Casey hasn't delivered much power, but Detroit doesn't appear to be heavily in the mix.

• Braves. Everyone loves Jarrod Saltalamacchia (but presumably Atlanta does too), and the Braves also have shortstop prospect Yunel Escobar, who isn't really needed in Texas, which has Michael Young signed through eternity. Perhaps the Braves would like to give it their best shot in what may be the last year for Andruw Jones, but they appear to need a starting pitcher more than a first baseman.

• Giants. They were mentioned in earlier talks, but that was before they fell out of the race. Besides, if they couldn't think of dealing Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain, where would they find positional prospects to trade?

Also this from Buster Olney's Chat on ESPN.com yesterday:

Dan (Boston): Hey Buster, I heard the Sox are showcasing Lester tonight and maybe looking to trade him for Tex. Any truth?

 Buster Olney: Dan: No, don't think so. I think they're just trying to upgrade the rotation -- although am hearing today that the asking price for Teixeira is dropping; the perception of a couple of rival executives is that the Rangers are intent on making the best deal and moving on (think Padres, Sheffield, 1993...)

Dan (NY): So basically Buster, if what you say is true...it will cost the Yankees a top prospect for Tex, but for other teams, it will come down to the best offer on the table?

 Buster Olney: Dan: I wish I could give you a better answer about how the price for Teixeira is going down, but that's what some execs are saying; the last word I got on the Yankees/Rangers talks, however, was that Texas was saying that either [Joba] Chamberlain or [Phillip] Hughes would have to be involved. That could change, of course... GMs are talking a ton these days. Remember how last year, the Phillies kept saying, no, no, no on Abreu to the Yankees, and then at the last second, they capitulated, in order to dump him. That's the most important development in the Teixeira thing, at this point -- the perception is that the Rangers seem intent on cutting and running, making their best deal possible and moving on. He makes sense for Atlanta, in particular.

Also this according to a report out of MLB.com

With less than a week to go until the trade deadline, it's looking more and more as though Mark Teixeira's days as a Ranger are numbered in single digits.

According to multiple Major League sources, trade talks centering on the Texas first baseman have intensified in the last 24 hours.

Though six teams -- the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants -- were among the clubs most active in their pursuit of Teixeira, as of midday on Tuesday, is appears that the Yankees and the three California teams, while not completely dropping out of the picture, are not in the forefront, either.

The Dodgers appear to have turned their focus on pitching. The Yankees are interested, but have been unwilling to part with their best young pitchers. The Giants have also stepped back after considering the price for Teixeira. And the Angels, after shipping right-hander Ervin Santana to the Minor Leagues, do not appear to be a trade match with the Rangers.

The Red Sox have been holding on to their young pitchers, but with the Yankees gaining ground in the American League East, the winning return of Jon Lester on Monday night and the expected return of Curt Schilling next week, they may be in a better position to part with some arms.

The Rangers have scouted a number of Boston's Major League and Minor League pitchers recently, including Lester, left-hander Kason Gabbard, Triple-A right-hander Clay Buchholz and Double-A right-hander Michael Bowden.

The Braves are balking at requests for catcher/first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia or shortstop Yunel Escobar. In any case, the Rangers are more likely to want Major League-ready pitching in any deal for Teixeira.

That might seem to make the Red Sox the front runners to land Teixeira, but with just days to go, predicting Teixeira's destination is a dicey proposition.

"Boston could have pulled the trigger already, but they haven't," said one source. "They could decide to go with what they've got."


Also courtesy of Inside-Edge Scouting Services, check out the numbers for Teixeira particularly in "clutch" situations this season -- something the Red Sox have had issues with against good pitching this season: