FanHouse StephenMarek

Just as soon as one rumor dies, another rumor becomes fact. That Mark Teixeira trade, which the Braves finally agreed to execute, found a suitor rather quickly as the Angels have stepped up and traded Casey Kotchman, and AA lefty righty Stephen Marek to Atlanta for Tex.

It could have been easy for the Angels to sit tight as they have a huge lead in the A.L. West, and we've never known the Angels to make a trade like this in-season. But they understand that to take a division championship (of which they have three in the last five seasons) to the next level, they needed another impact bat. Teixeira more than fits the bill with his splits of .283/.390/.512, while on his way to another 30 HR, 110 RBI season, and now you have to consider the Angels a serious candidate to not only get to the playoffs, but to make the World Series as well.

For Atlanta, they get Kotchman ... who like Tex is a free agent after this season is under the Braves control over the next three seasons. Marek currently has a 3.71 ERA for AA Arkansas this season while averaging 11.13 K's per nine innings, so it seems they got a stud back for Teixeira. But do you believe that Kotchman, Marek, and a season of Teixeira (with no playoff appearance) are worth Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and three other minor leaguers? That's a tough sell.