Mark Teixeira could be the Atlanta Braves’ new cleanup hitter as early tonight.

The Braves reached an agreement yesterday to send rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and three minor-leaguers to Texas for the powerful, switch-hitting Teixeira. The official announcement of the deal is expected to come today.

The negotiations were confirmed by people familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it wasn’t finalized.

The deal could help reshape the National League postseason picture.

The Braves were set to send Saltalamacchia, slick-fielding shortstop Elvis Andrus and two more minor-leaguers to Texas for Teixeira and left-handed reliever Ron Mahay. The Braves have struggled at first base all season and currently do not have a lefty in their bullpen. Texas was believed to be studying medical records on two Braves minor-league players before completing the four-for-two exchange.

Teixeira, hitting .297 with 13 homers and 49 RBI, would give the Braves a home run threat at first base they lacked after trading Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh in the off-season. Teixeira, a two-time Gold Glove winner, also would be a defensive upgrade.

The Braves also were trying to complete a trade for Kansas City closer Octavio Dotel. Atlanta may be ready to send pitcher Kyle Davies to the Royals.

Today is the deadline for making trades without waivers. The pending swap for Teixeira is already inspiring comparisons to the Braves’ 1993 deadline trade for first baseman Fred McGriff.

Atlanta, off yesterday, trails the New York Mets by 4½ games in the National League East and is in the thick of the wild-card race. The Mets ended the Braves’ streak of 14 straight division titles last year.

● METS UPGRADE: The NL East-leading New York Mets neatly filled a big hole at second base, acquiring three-time All-Star Luis Castillo from the Minnesota Twins for a pair of prospects yesterday.

The 31-year-old Castillo will give the Mets three switch-hitters at the top of their lineup when injured Carlos Beltran returns. Castillo brings speed and a .304 average to a batting order already topped by major-league stolen base leader Jose Reyes. Castillo twice was the NL steals leader, though bad knees have limited his running in recent seasons.

A three-time Gold Glove winner who still has above-average range, Castillo also should solidify the defense in a standout infield with Reyes at shortstop, David Wright at third and Carlos Delgado at first. Ruben Gotay had been playing second since Jose Valentin broke a bone in his right leg when he fouled off a pitch June 21.

Minnesota gets catcher Drew Butera, who will report to Double-A New Britain, Conn., and outfielder Dustin Martin, who will go to Single-A Fort Myers, Fla.

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