Atlanta Braves/Mark Teixeira trade--
In a move that signals the Braves don't expect to compete for the postseason down the stretch in the 2008 season, the team traded slugging 1st baseman Mark Teixeira on Tuesday. He was sent to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim--in return, Atlanta received 1st baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steve Marek. The Braves felt the need to make the deal as they're falling out of the race, and with Teixeira set to become a free agent at season's end. Teixeira is expected to command around 20-million dollars per year in a new contract. The Braves were not expecting to get into a bidding war for Teixeira. In Kotchman, Atlanta gets a replacement at 1st base, and a player under contract through the 2011 season. The Braves for the first time since 1990 are acknowledging they are on some level in a rebuilding mode.
Additional trades could be made by 4pm tomorrow, the deadline for non-waiver trades.
On the field for the Braves Tuesday, the team suffered its 4th-straight loss, 8-3 to the Cardinals. Atlanta has fallen to a season-high 8-and-a-half games out of first in the NL-East.
In a move that signals the Braves don't expect to compete for the postseason down the stretch in the 2008 season, the team traded slugging 1st baseman Mark Teixeira on Tuesday. He was sent to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim--in return, Atlanta received 1st baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steve Marek. The Braves felt the need to make the deal as they're falling out of the race, and with Teixeira set to become a free agent at season's end. Teixeira is expected to command around 20-million dollars per year in a new contract. The Braves were not expecting to get into a bidding war for Teixeira. In Kotchman, Atlanta gets a replacement at 1st base, and a player under contract through the 2011 season. The Braves for the first time since 1990 are acknowledging they are on some level in a rebuilding mode.
Additional trades could be made by 4pm tomorrow, the deadline for non-waiver trades.
On the field for the Braves Tuesday, the team suffered its 4th-straight loss, 8-3 to the Cardinals. Atlanta has fallen to a season-high 8-and-a-half games out of first in the NL-East.
