I'm on record as saying the Angels would never go out and make a deal for the big bat they desperately needed. Well, they proved me wrong by swapping 25 year-old Casey Kotchman (and minor league pitcher Steve Marek) for the biggest bat available at this year's trading deadline, Mark Teixeira. Angels' manager Mike Scoiscia stated Teixeira would be batting 3rd in the line up starting Wednesday night in the series finale in Boston against the Red Sox. With Teixeira, the Angels acquire a switch-hitting first baseman capable of hitting 30+ home runs at the plate and gold-glove defense on the field.
With this deal the Angels not only acquire the bat they need, but creditability in the front office by showing the same aggressiveness and guts off the field as they do on it. Previous years' inability or unwillingness to make a deadline deal appears to be a thing of the past as first year GM Tony Reagins made the biggest deal in recent Angels' history. The Angel players, fans, and all of baseball have been put on notice the Angels are serious about this season. They're not just looking to be contenders, but World Series champions. Arguably baseball's best team just got better.
Angels' owner Arte Moreno had stated his unwillingness to trade minor league prospects for a rental player, but apparently the major league roster was fair game. In trading Kotchman, the Angels lose a 25 year-old player having a decent season hitting and showing flashes of brilliance at first base. While trading Kotchman frees up a defensive spot for Teixeira in 2008, there are no guarantees for beyond this season. Teixeira has been clear he will become a free agent after this year, but also says his agent, Scott Boras, has an excellent relationship with Moreno and Reagins. He's not ruling out re-signing with the Halos this off-season. If Teixeira does leave after this season, the Angels have Kendry Morales at AAA who compares to Kotchman and is a few months younger. Plus, the Angels will get 2 additional draft picks in 2009 as compensation for losing Teixeira. I had written, after reading rumors of this deal, that I didn't like it mainly because I liked Kotchman and was worried about the team's future beyond 2008. If the Angels win the World Series, or if they re-sign Teixeira I believe the trade is a good one. Otherwise, it's a waiting games as to if Morales is a capable replacement at first base or the two draft picks provide adequate compensation for losing Kotchman.
I was wrong. I NEVER thought the Angels would have the balls to pull off this type of deal. I was wrong and I'm happy about it.
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