Chipper Jones learned long ago not to get too excited about trade rumors, but he couldn't help himself Friday as he envisioned Atlanta's lineup should the Braves finalize a proposed trade for Texas Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira. "It'd be awful nice to have that big bat in the lineup," Jones said of Teixeira, a switch-hitter who averaged 35 homers in his first four seasons (2003-06) and 122 RBIs during the past three seasons. "It'd make us deep. You're talking about him into the four- or five-hole, moving Mac [Brian McCann] and Frenchy [Jeff Francoeur] down a spot," Jones said. "It would make us pretty formidable, one through eight. As formidable as anybody." The Braves and at least two other teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels, remained the strongest contenders for Teixeira as of Friday night. But the Rangers could wait this out to the 4 p.m. Tuesday non-waiver trade deadline, hoping a team will cave in to their demands and sweeten an offer. The Braves have a three-player package featuring their top prospect, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, plus left-handed prospect Matt Harrison and one of two infield prospects, versatile Brent Lillibridge or shortstop Elvis Andrus. The Braves have asked for one of three Rangers relievers ?- closer Eric Gagne, lefty C.J. Wilson, lefty Ron Mahay ?- to be included with Teixeira, especially if the Braves are to include Andrus, an 18-year-old defensive whiz.