Mark Teixeira to Angels

The Los Angeles Angels have traded Casey Kotchman and minor league left-handed reliever Stephen Marek to the Atlanta Braves in return for switch-hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira.  The Angels clearly won this deal, but it wasn’t terrible for the Braves, they got a better package then the two compensation picks they would’ve received if Teixeira would’ve become a free agent at the end of the year.  Sure, they gave up more at last year’s deadline then they received at this year’s but, they most likely weren’t going to make the playoffs with him and were right to get what they could.  As for the Angels, they got a nice bat to protect Vladimir Guerrero in the middle of their lineup and if the AL West wasn’t decided already, it is now.  It does come as a bit of a surprise, though, as the Angels have a history of balking at trading for big names, but this time they were willing to surrender what it took to land Tex.  This trade just further causes one to wonder why teams are willing to give up the packages they do for decent relievers when they could land a solid, middle-of-the-order hitter for a lesser price.