Last year I derided the Braves for swapping two diamonds in the rough and a fungible fifth starter for a one-year Mark Teixeira rental. Though Jarrod Saltalamacchia has done little to vindicate my raves, the deal did nothing for the Nokahoma crowd but cost them money and prospects as they placed their '08 contention hopes on the disabled list.
Today, Atlanta and Anaheim consummated a trade that simultaneously spotlights the weakness of the original Teixeira deal while delivering sufficient return to salve the Braves' wounds. It should also have Angel fans dancing in the streets, demonstrating yet again how context affects how we perceive things.
Casey Kotchman, for whom Frank Wren sent Teixeira west, is certainly not worthy of the package that brought Teixeira over in the first place. A 25-year-old former #1 pick, Kotchman wields wood and leather with the best shortstops in the league. Unfortunately, he's a first baseman. A slick fielder, he has yet to produce the plate prowess that earned him #1 organizational prospect designation for three years from Baseball America. On the other hand, he's young, has good plate discipline, plenty of potential and is just entering his arbitration years. He could be a key cog on a pennant-winning Publish PostAtlanta side in '09 or '10.
That's fine, but the Halos are halfway to a pennant this year; it's World Series or bust for them. The acquisition of Teixeira gives the lineup extra giddy-up, and a third leg for the Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter stool. In his full year with Atlanta, Teixeira batted .295, poked 37 homers and pushed home 134 runs, while flashing a fine glove as well.
Will Teixeira flee Los Angeles first chance he gets this off-season? That's not Angels owner Arte Moreno's concern right now. World Champs are forever.
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