The Angels made a headline trade with the Atlanta Braves today, getting power-firstbaseman Mark Teixeira while the Angels send Casey Kotchman and Double-A ball reliever Stephen Marek.
Teixeira is batting .283 with 20 homers and 78 RBI this season. The switch-hitter will bat in the three slot in the lineup, with Vlad batting behind him as the cleanup man. Teixeira is a free agent after this season, but the Angels wouldn’t mind giving him an extended contract to keep him with the team.
The Angels are lacking in power numbers in the AL, but Teixeira will boost those with his arrival. He should suit up in an Angels uniform for Wednesday’s game at Boston. A new ESPN.com poll reveals almost 90% think Teixeira is the best player dealt thus far, while 62% predict the Angels making it to the World Series, with most of them seeing an Angels’ World Series championship.
