So far this summer, the pitcher has been the prize jewel in the trade market for potential contenders looking to cement their spots in October. However, that changed less than 48 hours before the trading deadline as the Atlanta Braves sent first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels and cemented them as the current odds on favorite to win the World Series. In return, the Braves got 25-year old first baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league right-handed pitcher Stephen Marek. In 2008, Teixeira has hit .283 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI and a .902 OPS. Teixeira has been solid this season and has gotten hot over the last month or so. He is a gold glove caliber first baseman. Kotchman is hitting .287 with 12 home runs, 54 RBI, and .774 OPS in a down year. He is also known as a solid glove at first base. Marek, who was in Double-A this season, is 2-6 with a 3.66 ERA out of the bullpen. He also has 57 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. How this deal works for the Angels The one weakness which has always hampered the Angels is a lack of overall power in their line-up. Outfielder Vladimir Guerrero will never be 100% again and has lacked consistent protection since coming to the Angels. Teixeira, a switch hitter, will slide into the middle of the line-up with Guerrero and centerfielder Tori Hunter to form a potent 3-4-5 to complement the speed of third baseman Chone Figgins at the top of the order. It will also ease the stress of the downward turn of outfielder Garrett Anderson?s game. To get him, the Angels give up their first baseman for the foreseeable future and a marginal prospect for a player who is most likely just an October rental. Teixeira will be a free agent after the season and is expected to go to the highest bidder, which is not likely to be the Angels at this point. However, for 2008, the Angels fortify their line-up to make a deep playoff run and if health is there, there can be an October celebration in the city of angels. Grade: A How this deal works for the Braves As the Braves continued to meddle around .500 and baseball and injuries to third baseman Chipper Jones and starting pitcher Tim Hudson, /general Manager Frank Wren has decided to sell off 2008 and focus on 2009. With no chance financially to resign Teixeira, the Braves made the best possible trade in a weak market. In Kotchman, the Braves get a player they can put at first base right now and for years to come. He won?t be an impact player in my mind but can project as a .285-25-110 player who can be in the five or six hole. In looking at the package they gave to the Texas Rangers a year ago, Braves' fans expected more in return for Teixeira both on the field and in this subsequent trade. However, he is a better option than Chad Tracy of Arizona. It isn?t a great trade for Atlanta but does allow them to take a step toward future starting in 2009. Grade: B How do you think this trade works out? Email your grades to [email protected]