ajcsportstalk

By Smarty Jones

July 29, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

No!

We got screwed. BUT our backs were to the wall so we got the best we could.

By Ed Glennon

July 29, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this

Who is his agent? Then I will tell you if it is a good trade.

By Mike

July 29, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

They got a great deal more than they would have got by losing him to free agency. I did think we could get more, but something is better than nothing.

By andrew

July 29, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

Definitely not fair. I expected a much better package for an impact guy like Teixeira. Kotchman has a lot of potential, yes, but I think the only real good reason for acquiring solely him was because he’s under locks until 2011. Hopefully his power develops in the coming years, as the Angels had originally hoped. I would’ve expected the Braves to at least get the additional pitching prospect they’d been asking for — instead they get some AA reliever that was seemingly tossed into the deal as a consolation prize.

By Vito

July 29, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

no compared to what we paid to get him it is way short

By Roanone

July 29, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

Yes,he was not worth what it will take to keep him long term. Better a proven needed player like Kotchman than waiting to develop a draft pick that may or may not work out.

By Andy

July 29, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

I think they did, They recieved a young guy in Kotchman who is just hitting his stride and a quality pitcher. We control Kotchman for the next three years also for a cheap price. So all in all I think this was a good trade for Atlanta.

By White Flag...

July 29, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

The trigger was pulled WAAAAAY too early on this one. I like Kotchman, but I like Conor Jackson better.

By Jason Hart

July 29, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

So I guess we’re gonna field a team of minor leaguers and bench players for the rest of the season. With the Braves going down the drain, we are soon to have the worst team in each of the four major sports. Good thing Valdosta won TitleTown because Atlanta is bizarro-TitleTown.

By J.L.

July 29, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

Yes,Yes,Yes. considering he will only play for the halo’s for two months. I am very pleased the Braves were able to pick up a young quality First Baseman,who will show up before June.

By Because

July 29, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

NO!!!

I’m fed up with ownership. He should have been the player to build around….regardless of the cost.

How did we not enough money to re-sign him? having lost hampton, kotsasy, glavine and smoltz contracts.

By ObiWanKobe

July 29, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

Absolutely fair, Tex for a Gold Glove 1st Baseman that they control through 2011. Tex was never clutch as DOB has pointed out more than once. He never carried this team when it meant anything. It would have made no sense to have him taking 1/5th of the pay-roll for the next 6 years. You can’t build a winner with that contract. Another good deal by Wren.

By Del

July 29, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

Heck yes — for a two month rental. Great trade!

By lee

July 29, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

I think this trade is rediculous. I thought liberty media was ready to spend money for their fans. I guessed wrong. Go angels.

By Raul is Cool

July 29, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

Yes Kotchman is going to be with the Braves through 2011 and is supposed to be a great fielding 1B and a good contact hitter and has power potential.

By Mike

July 29, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

You’ve gotta be kidding me.. alls we get is Kotchman?

I dont want that guy as our regular first basemen for years to come…

Wow that’s a weak move Wren!!

By Jon

July 29, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

Wasn’t a fair trade but at least we got “SOMETHING” in return instead of just letting him walk in free agency.

By Robert

July 29, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the memories Tex!

It might have been short, but it sure was sweet!

We will sure miss you buddy, but good luck with the Halos!

By justin

July 29, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

No, but it was the best we were gonna get. Basically it was either Kotchman or Chad Tracey for Tex. I don’t see how you can think Tracey had more upside than Kotchman. Besides, he’s basically keeping first base warm for a couple of seasons till Freddy Freeman is ready to come up.

By Todd

July 29, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

If Tracy and Owings were on the table, we made the wrong deal

By Ben

July 29, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

I am a little disappointed in the return that we got for Tex at this point. I am not completely upset with getting Kotchman but I would like to imagine we could get something better than a middle reliever in the trade as well. At least we cut payroll and now we are going to make an even better profit next year. Fan attendance is pathetic as it is, this will only make it worse.

By Dave in Green Bay

July 29, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

Great trade. first baseman for the future now get something for Ohman and Kotsey and my day will be complete. We must retool. Time to get younger. Time to get rid of Cox and his bunch of morons. Anybody that keeps Corky on the team should be gone. Cox keeps trying the same things over and over hoping for a different result. That of course is the definition of INSANITY. Go Frank Wren.

By Thomas

July 29, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

I like the idea of having Kotchman, a young, solid fielder and decent hitter, for the next four years. He is under cheap contract, so money will be available to improve the rotation during the offseason. He had the second best avgerage on the top team in the League, second only to Howie Kendrick. I am clueless about Marek; all I know is that he is the closer for the Arkansas Travelers. I wish we could have gotten a young starter prospect, but overall, I am satisfied with the deal. Now go sign CC in the offseason!

By Danny M

July 29, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

Yeah. In fairness I haven’t seen Kotchman play that much. I know he’s supposed to be pretty good. We better sign him for a long time though, because we just gave up the best 1B in baseball besides Pujols to get him. We must have a lot of faith in him. I know we have an eye for pitching talent, so hopefully this minor leaguer will be good. Just as I see it on the surface though, it does look like we got screwed.

By Charlie

July 29, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

The Braves got about as much as they could expect, considering Tex is a Bora$ Boy. What they Braves gave up to get Tex has turned out to be a lousy trade. It ranks right up there with the J.D. Drew deal. In just those 2 trades alone, the Braves got little. They got short term stuff, and gave up excellent prospects. So much for the golden moves of John S. and Frank Wren. The Braves have come out the losers, big time, on both deals.

By rwess

July 29, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

With what the Braves gave away last year to get him, this is an abomination. However, the Braves were not going to go into a bidding war to sign him after this year, so it was good to get amything you could for him.

By sathefari

July 29, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

Good deal. Tex walks at end of year anyway, atleast we get a capable 1B to fill the hole. Kotchman could end up being a stud.

By matta

July 29, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

We got “screwed”? Are you kidding? Kotch was the best 1B on the table for the Braves. He gives them an excellent glove with good contact and some pop through 2012, plus they picked up the Angel’s #6 pitching prospect who good numbers in the minors.

They definately picked up more than the 2 draft picks would have netted in the off season.

By Cusesteve

July 29, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

YES! It did not seem like they were going to pay Tex, I mean Bor-a*. I think this is much better than at least $1 million per for 2 draft picks…those can be hit or miss…with Kotchman, at least they know they are getting a gold glove caliber fielder that will hit .285 with some power….

By IlliniBrave

July 29, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

I think we got a great deal, considering how little leverage we really had. I have felt all along that, outside of Conor Jackson on the D’Backs, that Kotchmann was our best opportunity. He’s young, extremely talented, very cheap, and ours until 2011. Couldn’t really have asked for more. And then we get a minor-league arm thrown in with the deal - I’d say we did pretty darn good.

By JOHN CENA SUCKS

July 29, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this

Braves got the best deal they could get we get a cheap young 1B controllable through 2011 but I thought Braves should’ve gotten a Starting Pitcher because maybe Jason Heyward could be the future 1B if no Outfield spot is available when he comes up.

By charles

July 29, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this

No, not considering what we gave up to rent him for 1 year. We gave up our best young talent, and now we get a light hitting first baseman and a 24 year old, AA pitching prospect. Sounds like the Braves of old.

By The_Future

July 29, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

Kotchman’s solid. But the fact that we’re trading a guy that was acquired last year to put us over the top proves that this can’t be the only move made.

Has to be at least 2 more deals coming… Time to detroy and rebuild

By Matt

July 29, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Man we got ripped off bad. We had to give up a lot of players to get Mark and we barely got anything in return. We should have gotten some of their pitching. The Angels have some of the best pitching in MLB Baseball.

By Pete H.

July 29, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this

I think we got a very good deal. Kotchman is a terrific 1B (admittedly, not a lot of power, but he’s a lot like Youkilis…patient, good glove and if you make a mistake he can put a charge in the ball. He only has about 10 less extra base hits than Tex, so we’re not losing a TON of production.)

Marek, with 57 Ks in 43 innings, looks like an interesting arm. I wish we had gotten someone a bit more interesting…but he seems like a good bet to be in the pen next year.

I was hoping for Conor Jackson, but I don’t think that was realistic. We got good return for two months of Tex, a lot better than two draft picks.

By Brianob

July 29, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this

Yup, good trade. Many Angels fans were sad to see Kotchman go. He looks very solid to me, and at 25 years old with a 6’3 215 lb frame his power could very well develop.

Texeira was a good, not great, player and he will be way overpriced next year.

I’ll be curious to seee if Wren gets anything for Ohman. We need some pitching.

By brett

July 29, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this

Pathetic trade. Tex should’ve been signed long term by the Braves, regardless of the cost. He is worth it. Anyone see our lineup for the game tonight. Talk about pathetic..lame duck status…

By JB

July 29, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

Considering we have Kotchman through the 2011 season, I think we made a good deal. We can add him to McCann, Escobar, and Jurrjens as players to build around.

By roman88

July 29, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this

yes, kotchman is batting .378 against lefties, and he is one, how many lefties have atl struggled against, few teams could give tex 20+ million a yr, take that money saved for pitching and power outfielder next yr. better than getting chad tracey. now trade french harp, kotsay, olman,

By MoBrave

July 29, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this

Good trade. Got more value than two more draft choices would have provided.

By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2009)

July 29, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

I’m giving this trade the thumbs down. Kotchman is a fine player in his own right, but he isn’t worth Tex and two 1st round draft picks. Stephen Marek is a 40th rounder and nothing more than a throw in.

The Angels are really rolling the dice. They need to win the World Series in order to really come out ahead in this deal. As it is, they still get the two draft picks irregardless of what happens in the post season.

The Braves gave up five players for Teixeira and Mahay one year ago. Now they get what is essentially one good player in Kotchman. Atlanta got R-A-P-E-D blind all the way around.

By Veteran Fan

July 29, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

Best deal possible! This season we have had nothing but bad luck! For the team to be this close in the standings with our pitching staff in Piedmont Hospital as in patients is incredible! We should fill the stadium the rest of the season and thumb our noses at the obnoxious Mets and Philly fans! GO MARLINS! Management should immediately lower upper deck and outfield ticket prices and everyone should bring the neighborhood kids! This is an opportunity for the entire city to rally behind the team and show our young players that we support them! Lets’ create a second Atlanta Miracle like 1991 and recapture the joy of just watching BASEBALL!

By Jim

July 29, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

Better than a stick in the eye… but better than Salty and the bunch we sacrificed for a year of hope and no change?.

…Priceless…..

By Fred

July 29, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

To all the Tex lovers (“thanks for the memories”, etc.) - exactly what did he do here that was so memorable?

Kotchman actually has a higher average at the moment and is on pace for 18 homers and 81 rbi’s. I don’t see where that’s getting nothing in return for someone that had NO chance of resigning.

You naysayers need to wake up. Just because ownership isn’t ready to ask Boros’s asking price for Tex doesn’t mean they aren’t ready to spend money, just spend it more wisely. You are probably the same people that were disturbed that we didn’t resign Andruw Jones too. But what the heck, the $16 million a year wouldn’t have been coming out of YOUR pocket, now would it?

Now go back to your fantasy leagues where you can play without hurting anyone and leave big business to those that have been trained to do so. Freaking know it all’s.

By Cro25

July 29, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

Did the right thing by trading him, but should have held out for more than what they got.

By TheAntiMe

July 29, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

Not impressed. I knew that a lot of folks were overly optimistic about what we would get in return for Tex. However, to just get a decent position player with some small amount of upside potential along with a AA middle relief pitcher who was a 40th round draft pick really makes me want to hurl!

By Darren

July 29, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this

I would have settle for the future and taking the draft picks. Two first rounders if used correctly could prove tremendous results. Bad deal.

Plus, you never know what would have happened the rest of the year. Tex was heating up and could have carried us for a while.

By Tom in ATL

July 29, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

Great Trade - We wound up with an excellent young 1st Baseman, under contract cheap for several years to build around. That being said - this is tonights lineup - maybe the weakest ever fielded in major league history for a team 100 games into their season.

LF Blanco, Gregor 1 24 .262 SS Escobar, Yunel 6 39 .284 CF Kotsay, Mark 4 28 .290 1B Norton, Greg 3 16 .215 3B Infante, Omar 2 15 .293 2B Johnson, Kelly 9 43 .264 RF Francoeur, Jeff 9 45 .232 C Miller, Corky 1 3 .102

By Joshua Barlowe

July 29, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

I would’ve rather had Tracy or Connor Jackson.

Casey Kochman = Adam LaRoche

By confused

July 29, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

sorry guys this may be a stupid question but what is a 10 and 5 guy? Thanks to whoever knows.

By reddawg

July 29, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this

this is the team that traded Dale Murphy to philadelphia for nobody now and less to be named later. What did you expect?

By JohnGTFan

July 29, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this

While this doesn’t seem all that “fair” right now…it’s the best we were going to get. Connor Jackson was NOT coming here….and Kotchman and Tracy are pretty even. Noone is going to give away a great package for 2 months of Tex.

By edward

July 29, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

conor jackson would have been so much better. And that’s all we could get for pitching????

By Clint

July 29, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

Great Move, absolutely great move. What did some of you think we were going to get, Albert Pujols? I swear the Braves have some of the dumbest fans on earth. We just got a young first baseman that we can pencil in for the next 10 years. He’s already solid and is going to get better.

Now, for those who say we didn’t get comparable value in return, are you kidding me?? We got an extremely serviceable first baseman who is on the road to being a stud AND we got eleven million dollars of payroll room for next year and beyond. Yup, we get Kotch and $11 million to spend on pitching and outfield. This is a great move.

By Scott

July 29, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this

I’m very disappointed that the Braves get Marek and no one else in addition to Kotchman. Kotchamn will be a more than adequate 1B, but Frank Wren couldn”t wrestle more from the Angels than Marek. Looks like he got robbed blind.

By Jon F.

July 29, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

It’s not really fair to consider last years trade when evaluating this one. We gave up a lot for Tex, sure, but he was not acquired to be the Braves first baseman of the future. Although there were some optimistic stories, there never has been much chance of a hometown discount. A player does not hire Scott Boras as his agent unless he is willing to play almost anywhere for absolute top dollar. Tex was brought over to try and lift the Braves over the top last year and this year. Too many serious injuries ruined that plan. Anyway, you have to judge that trade on its own merits. As for this trade, I think it’s a great deal! Kotch is a great young player that is cheap and under contract for a little while. And, we get a guy with a plus fastball and a decent curveball out of the ‘pen. You can never have too many of those guys. Now let’s dump some dead weight and find a great starter over the winter, and some consistent power in the outfield.

By Kevin

July 29, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this

No. Should of got what we paid or nothing at all.

By :D

July 29, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

wish they could have gotten Tifton’s Nick Green, who is one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects, in the deal

By Stu

July 29, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

10 and 5 means you have 10 years service time in the big leagues and 5 years with your current team. 10 and 5 guys have to approve trades (Andruw last year - which is why we couldn’t move him).

By Ron Roberts

July 29, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

Guys, we got a quality 1B we have for more than just two months, plus a good young pitcher, in exchange for a guy the Angels only get to keep at 1B for two months, before having to try and re-sign him.

We got about what I thought we’d get.

Now that we’ve addressed one potential hole at 1B for this offseason, we can focus on LF, CF and the rotation.

And we’ll have $30-40 million to address those positions with. We should be major players, this offseason, and with Sabathia, Milton Bradley, Pat Burrell, AJ Burnett (owns his option), Brad Penny and Ben Sheets out there.

Good deal. I’ll take it.

By coach k

July 29, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this

So typical of this lame mgmt one great player for an avg player and a minor leager . Get me a real owner this is horse**

By DHD

July 29, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this

A GREAT deal for us. Just ask the Angels’ fans. They are upset at losing Kotchman. They may lose Tex at the end of the year. So were we. Now, we have a good player secured. You never know how the young pitcher will do.

We are not done either.

By bamafan

July 29, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

hate to see Tex go to the angels but, the braves had to trade him. Good luck in the future with the angels. tex!!

By Bob

July 29, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

No way. I would have rather had the draft picks. Now we only get non-power hitting first baseman and Angels get a #1 pick and a pick between the the first and second round if they DON’T sign Mark after the season.

It is not two month rental folks we were going to get something even if we had not resigned Mark.

We gave up 5 very good players last year for a Kochman and one year of Mark. Horrible deal. Though the first deal was worse than this one. It would not have been if they resigned Mark.

By casey

July 29, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this

The appropriate question is not whether this was a good trade for Atlanta, but whether the two Teixiera trades as a package were positive. Short answer: Absolutely not. The Rangers got Salty, Harrison who is already in their major league rotation, Feliz who hits 102 on the gun and is now the #1 prospect in the system, Andrus who has all the tools to be an allstar shortstop and is burning up the Texas League, and Beau Jones who is being groomed as a closer and whose ERA is minuscule in AA. John Schuerholz will soon be shown to have made one of the worst trades in history, although AJC writers continue to protect him. He mortgaged the future to make a last-gasp winner out of the Braves in his last year as GM, as he knew he was going to step down (up?).

Oh, I forgot. For all that, the Braves have a .289 hitting first baseman to show for all that. Unreal.

By Brian Daniels

July 29, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

the trade was a good trade for what was offered. The Angels are loaded in the minors, we could/should have gotten a little bit better minor league prospect in return. The reason I say that is, We (braves) gave up a lot for Tex. I think the players we gave up to get him will be a heck of a lot better than what what the Braves got for him now. Saying that Kotchman is a good player, good stick, not much power. We shall see how this one pans out. He is a lot like Adam Laroche..

By Pete H.

July 29, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

Wow, whining about our lineup tonight? That’s gotta be a 12 year old. Lemme see. Chipper and McCann and Diaz are injured and Kotchman is on a plane from Boston. That’s half the team unavailable. What the heck did you expect the Braves to do tonight?

We’ve lost four-fifths of our rotation, our closer, our LF and lately our 3B and CF. Did anyone here really think we were going to be able to field a great team with those kinds of injuries?

Wren pulled off a great trade. Pena was tempting, but he has had ONE good year, and isn’t doing much this year. Conor Jackson was not available, no matter what rumors you hear on talk radio. The Dbacks laughed. And Tracey is half the player, or less, that Kotchman is. And funny how Micah Owings looks great from here, when he’s been beaten like a rented mule all year (except against us).

Congrats to Wren. We got a class guy who is going to keep up the good D and give us a useful bat. We no longer have a real cleanup hitter, but no one was offering us one.

As for comparing the package to what we gave up for Tex, you can’t compare the two situations. We paid big for nearly two years of Tex and hopefully two playoffs and maybe a World Series. It didn’t work out. We’re trading two months of a Tex, not the same at all.

And frankly, that great package we gave up hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire. Salty is rated the worst catcher in the AL.

By THWG

July 29, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this

Does anybody know Kotchman’s average with RISP? I don’t keep track of the AL (especially the West Coast), so I honestly don’t know about how clutch he is. We don’t have anything “clutch” right now and could sure use some!

By Bob

July 29, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this

Weren’t there any 40 year old pitchers available to trade Tex for?

That 11 million in cap room is only good if the Braves find quality players to spend it on.

This just sux.

By Shep

July 29, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

Considering all that we gave up last year in order to get Tex, and now, barely getting anything in return, I’d say we got ripped. I expected a little more.

By braves fan

July 29, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

seriously people, calm down. with 2 days left to the deadline, the braves had no leverage. they had to get rid of him. they got what they could. they got the best that was offered. there was nothing management could have done to squeeze more out of the deal. if you look at all the teams interested in tex, they all had decent 1B’s. no one was ready to dish out 5+ prospects because of that reason. the angels wanted a slugger to complement vlad. they ended up being the most aggressive.

oh remember when we traded renteria for some prospect pitcher that never started a major league game? what was his name again?

By Brent

July 29, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this

I agree with other posters that we pulled the trigger to early. You had the best player on the market and you reacted to what really seemed to be the first offer and not the best offer.

By W. E. Jessup

July 29, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this

I’d like to know if the Braves will be able to bid for Tex when he becomes a free agent. Did the trade with the Angels include a pledge that the Braves would not bid for Tex (against the Angels and all other teams)?

By TheAntiMe

July 29, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

I have a feeling that if the Braves would have waited until at least Thursday, we could have gotten some better prospects to go along with a decent MLB player. Think about it. How often have the NY Yankees made trades at deadline time offering a package of high-potential minor league prospects? Even if that wasn’t going to happen this year, the Braves could have made the same or better trade by waiting until the final day of the trade deadline. Sort of lame.

By Josh

July 29, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this

If we’d have kept Tex and lost him we would have got 2 premimun draft picks—I’m wondering if we got that much in this trade.

By braves fan

July 29, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this

why bid for tex when you have kotchman through 2011?

defeats the purpose of the trade. kotchman will cost 1.3 mil a year, whereas tex will be 20 mil a year. i’d take kotchman.

By teej

July 29, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this

I agree that Kotchman and Marek are much better than hanging on to Tex and letting him walk at the end of the season, only to net two draft picks in return.

What I don’t get it is, why was the trigger pulled so quickly? There’s one and a half more days until the deadline. I can’t imagine this was the best we could’ve gotten out of Tex who was quite possibly the highest quality player available for trade. Couldn’t they have listened to all offers or done more talking to get what they really wanted, including starting pitching? What was the big rush???

By Bye Bye Tex

July 29, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

I would have liked to see them pick up a better pitcher with the second pick. Don’t get me wrong, Kotchman beats the 2 draft picks they would have gotten, but it would have been nice to get a MLB ready pitcher in the deal.

By Bye Bye Tex

July 29, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

I would have liked to see them pick up a better pitcher with the second pick. Don’t get me wrong, Kotchman beats the 2 draft picks they would have gotten, but it would have been nice to get a MLB ready pitcher in the deal.

By SOUTHERN BOY

July 29, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

Ted Turner would not let this happen!

By Mitch

July 29, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this

Under the circumstances of baseball sometimes, not all deals are “fair”. That having been said, with the team out of the race, looking to 2009, and with Tex’s free agency looming, and the unlikelihood of re signing him, Wren did the best he could. Maybe Kotchman will develop into a 20 plus homer hitter. I cant really fault Wren or the Braves for this one. We did what we could, and have to move on.

By TheAntiMe

July 29, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this

“Weren’t there any 40 year old pitchers available to trade Tex for?” - Bob

Thanks, Bob - rotfl - Who knows, maybe they can get Knucksie (Phil Niekro) to come out of retirement.

By alex

July 29, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

Great trade. Amazing we got somebody as quality as Kotchmann considering how small the market was.

By M. R. Biggins

July 29, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this

Yawn

By duh

July 29, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this

ok DOB since ESPN and CNNSI beat you to the story today can you give us any heads up has to who is next and how deep it will go? There needs to be 5-6 more players and 1 manager sent packing

By James

July 29, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this

Until last years trade for Tex. The Brett Butler trade was the worst in Braves history. The Salty (and others) trade for Tex will go down as the worst trade ever!! Thanks Wren!! ..and cox is playing nurse maid to a dead up, from the neckup team, and we are tired of it!

By Kelley

July 29, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this

I’m just glad that the Braves won’t have to deal with Boras at the end of the season. Tex is NOT worth what he and Boras will command at the end of the season! The Braves were smart to get rid of him now, and get something in return.
I liked Tex fine, but I agree with some of you that he really never “carried” the team like someone who is going to ask for what he and Boras will ask for moneywise.

Clint’s assessment in his post of most of the Atlanta fans was dead on, a lot of you won’t ever be happy no matter what the Braves do, or don’t do.

Good move, no one should be shocked it happened.

I’ve heard talk of Kelly Johnson, Kotsay, and Frenchy also being asked about. No offense to Frenchy, but who in their right mind would be interested in him right now?

By smoltz's fan

July 29, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this

Kotchman is somewhat similar to former Braves 1B LaRoche except Kotchman is a better fielder and is very difficult to strikeout, but LaRoche has more power. Tex is a great 2nd half player, but he is awful to watch in the beginning of the year. Now, the Braves will hit less HRs from the 1B position in addition to their outfield corps with the least amount of HRs hit this year.

By ben

July 29, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this

What about Cox? Anyway they can make a trade for him?

By Tom in ATL

July 29, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this

Pete H -

Not whining about the lineup tonight - just making an observation that it is horrendous beyond comprehension - due to the trade and of course the unprecendented amount of injuries to this team.

Frank Wren did a marvelous job making lemonade out of a bunch of lemons the Braves have been dealt with this year.

By JimK

July 29, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this

OK, we salvage one good, affordable player from last year’s shameful exchange of five top prospects for a short term rental.

If one of the five Texas prospects becomes a bigger star than Kotchman, we lose. Or more than one does, maybe we learn a lesson about short term thinking.

No more rentals!

By Scott

July 29, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this

We really need to trade for some ace bandages, tommy john surgeries, and lots and lots of geritol

By Paul W

July 29, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this

Considering that Teixeira was a rental, its a good deal. Now, deal Kotsay and Ohmann for some youngsters, send Frenchy back to Mississippi to learn to hit, and get Brandon Jones some ABs.

By Tin Man

July 29, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this

Good riddance. He will have his numbers every year but I can count on one hand the number of times he has gotten a clutch hit or homerun. “Tex homers and gets 3 rbi’s in Braves 11-7 loss….” was typical. Then an 0-4 against a good pitcher or in a tight 3-2 ballgame. He doesn’t deserve to play on the same team with Smoltz and the fans would take a David Justice- type who plays with some passion in a heartbeat over Tex despite lesser stats. Thanks for nothin Tex. What we got is better than having you here. Salty wouldn’t be playing anyway with McCann, who you could learn a few things from. Maybe you can show the fans in Anaheim that you have a pulse or that you care even a little bit. Nice smile in today’s paper. Tex = A-Rod with worse stats.

By freeze

July 29, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this

AS A ATLANTAN IM SICK OF THIS S*. OUR CITY SPORTS TEAM ARE CURSED. BRAVES OWNERSHIP IS WACK, HAWKS OWNERSHIP GARBAGE, FALCONS OWNERSHIP TRASH. I DONT EVEN CARE ABOUT THE HOCKEY TEAM. KEEP ALL THESE INJURED OLD GUYS LIKE CHIP,GLAV,SMOLTZIE. AND TRADE YOUNG HEALTHY GUYS (TEX) ITS JUST SAD…

By jopanoy

July 29, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this

Funny thing the Angels blogs are full of fans that are miffed. They call Kotch the MVP of their team and believe he is just beginning to hit his stride. I’d say give the guy a chance, especially if the fan base was so attached to him. Maybe we could of gotten more but it could be worse…..at least it’s not the ASG calling the shots (or not calling).

By Kashi

July 29, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this

I agree with you Smoltz’f fan at 8:27. I still have gut feeling that Tex would work with Braves this off season to stay with Braves. Wren never asked him what Tex thinks at the end of season. I agree this is dissapointing year for Tex but hey we took lots of chances with Andrew and he wasn’t that good of hitter but gold glove CF and Tex is 1B. We have far more enough money to resign Tex and Starting pitchers. And if we pay between 3-4M to omahn he will stay with Braves. All of a sudden we have a very good 2009 team. Well, only time will tell if Kotchman is any better then Adam LaRoche prior to Tex. I do know that we lost once in a lifetime player…power swith hitter behind Chipper and gold glove defense.

By Steven

July 29, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this

Yes, it was fair. I would of liked to have seen a second prospect but I like Kotchman a lot. Good job Wren.

By JMar

July 29, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this

Trading for Tracy would have depressed me. Kotchman is a great bargain for the next three years, and I expect him to get more power each year.

By Coach Smith

July 29, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

I think it remains to be seen

If the Braves go out and get a proven LF like BAY and now have the cash to sign a BEN SHEETS and/or CC Sabthia they will be much better than having one big time player

All of a sudden then you’d have Kotchman along with BAY/etc in LF then a starting rotation of Huddy, JJ, SHeets/CC, Campillio

in other words if this trade allows them to get MORE pieces that are better then it is great

By Jim

July 29, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

With our back to wall, we got what we could. Kockman will be good and he’ll be around for awhile Interesting to see what the CA press is saying about Angels willing to risk giving up a solid 1B knowing that Tex will be on the FA market this winter with a hyper inflated Boras price tag attached.

By George Jr

July 29, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

that was the most stupidest thing the braves have ever done since i became a atlanta brave fan since 1990 i know we have alot of guys hurt and with chipper hurt and on the dl texiera was the best player we had i still thought the braves had shot i mean we were down quite a bit of games but we could have still used him and see how the 2nd half of the season went then during the offseason atleast try too resign him even though he has a moron of a agent in scott boras look what andruw jones has done since he left atlanta nothing he is hittin around 166 batting average i love the braves there my team no matter what but frank wren is a moron who doesnt have a clue what he is doing i still think the mike hampton thing was dumb maybe we should have got rid of him what we goin to do next get rid of a pitcher or a position player i really dont act like this but its how i feel there goes another season

By Chadwick W.

July 29, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Sure! Let us have him while he was sucking wind at the begining of the season. He is just now warming up! We were loaded like a shotgun!!!!

By Mike

July 29, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this

All iam going to say about this is a guy like C.C or Sheets better be signed in the offseason or iam not going to like this deal

By Jeff

July 29, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this

The Braves had to get a first baseman in the deal and the Diamondbacks apparently wouldn’t include Jaskson. I was hoping for a younger, more promising pitcher, but overall it’s about as good as the Braves could expect to do.

By Nelson

July 29, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this

And What about Francoeur, Kelly, kotsay and Corky???? Trade all of them for a decent player or a pitcher!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By tater

July 29, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this

Wait and see..I thought Tex was the man but when it comes down to the clutch ,Wren has to do what he has to.First big step .Hope PRES.JOHN is watching.GOOOOO.. . BRAVES…….!!!!

By cefus

July 29, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this

what is wrong with this team!!! are we building to be the Braves of the 80s again i get so sick of this team losing all the time quit being stingy and go out there and get some players to help us win instead of letting all of them go!

By Nelson

July 29, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this

Call me crazy or whatever you want, but Tex looks happy leaving this team loaded with mediocre players and a decadent manager.

By Bart Giamatti

July 29, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

Brett Favre would have made a bigger impact than these 2 guys.

By Gene

July 29, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

Tex is a good player. It is obvious that the Braves are going nowhere in the next few years. I hope that Tex ends up in the World Series with the Angels.

By sam

July 29, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

About all that we could’ve expected. It’s tough to negotiate when there isn’t a market for the guy you’re trying to deal. Wren can spin it the way he wants, but he jumped at this deal because it was clearly the best.

I like Kotchman’s potential…would’ve liked a better arm as well but this was a good trade.

Hopefully we can deal Ohman and Kotsay for some decent pitching prospects.

By smoltz's fan

July 29, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this

The next wave of the Baby Braves are still a couple years away in LoA (Jason Heyward, Cody Johnson and Freddie Freeman) and HiA (seven prospects with 12 or more homeruns), so the Bravos will definitely need to acquire some veterans for next season. They need a backup catcher, LF with power, starting pitcher and a left handed reliever if they let Ohman go. Hopefully, the rest of the young guys will hit for more power in addition to Chipper and McCann. They need to let Gotay, Morton and Corky go after the season for poor offensive performance, while keep Infante and Prado. Royce Ring has to go too.

By nelson

July 29, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

good trade ! finally !! bye bye tex !

By frank

July 29, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this

I bet those dorks that made the youtube song feel dumb now lol

By henry

July 29, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this

Great trade , wish we hadn’t traded for him in first place . The Angel’s are losers on this one .

By Russ

July 29, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this

Tex is a stud player to build around but the Braves won’t pay him because they give all there money to washed up glavine and smoltz and Chipper who is always a bandaid away from the DL.

Been a diehard Brave since the mid 70s but just like the Braves I give up and I;m done

Cheapass ownership, just like the Hawks!

By Aaron

July 29, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this

Not a good Trade. Kotchman is just a average player I rather if the braves would have gotten three prospects for Texieria. Right now I got to say the braves are the worst team in baseball

By TimeForChange

July 29, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

Yea we got a pretty good deal. Remember that this kid is ours for 4 years and Tex would have walked. Hes a two month rental for any team at this point and they must go through Boras to resign him. He wont be cheap and I look at Tex as a half year player. At least this year he was.

This will also allow for the Braves to shop this winter. We have way to many holes that need filled to be playing around with a Tex salary. Instead we take that money and get pitchers who will stay with Jurrjens and Camp. I just dont see where we can get rid of Camp. We need to sign at least two pitchers and another arm for the pen. Hopefully they will keep Ohman. Hes worth the money and he likes Atlanta.

My only problem is that we did not trade Tex sooner when we could have gotten some more talent. To bad all the injuries we have has taken us way down. On the upside, it also shows the braves where we need to improve. Theres a lot there to improve on.

One more note, send Frenchy back down and get him away from Pendleton. Pendleton is killing the young batters. Sign a proven hitting coach over the winter. We need one.

By proeye

July 29, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this

Letting Ron Mahay go had to be one of the dumbest decisions I’ve ever seen. Why let talent go for nothing in return???

We could not have anticipated our season working out the way it did really. So I know why we are in the fix we are in now and why we had to trade Tex. But there was no excuse for letting Mahay go. $4 mil is nothing.

No, he wouldn’t have saved this season, but at least it would have been one less piece of the puzzle we would not have had to worry about. He is left handed and could get right handers out.

Anyway… I think the rest of this season should be dedicated to letting some of the younger guys develop at the major league level. Forget Blanco. He is not the future. Let Josh Anderson have CF.

Whoever is in left, let Brandon Jones or Jason Perry play. Forget about wins, that’s not the point. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t matter if we lose 99 games now because a lost season is a lost season. Who cares? But of course management cares because they want the fans to keep coming out. Well, sorry, but you are going to lose with Blanco in CF and Norton in LF anyway. Work on developing a better team in 2009.

I say even bench Frenchy every other day. Let someone else get some ABs!!!

Okay, we have two more days to make some trades so let a few more guys go. Let’s get some young talent on the Braves!!!

By southbeachdietfreak

July 29, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this

George Jr

First of all, when you click the post button, wait for it… if you click “please wait”, your post will appear each time you do it…

Something clearly had to be done. Keeping Tex would have been a huge mistake… yes he was good, but not what we needed most. I am glad we have the extra cash to go out and get some good prospects.

By mr.baseball

July 29, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this

Lets be real here.Look at it purely money wise.We freed up monies to go shopping next season.Look what the cardinals have done.1991 thru 2005 a great run Ted Turner an inovative owner who put the braves in virtually every city in america.Who knows maybe mlb . teams will realize that if scotty b is your agent our team wont sign you.Anybody agree or disagree.Lets sign four or five good players instead of one great player then look to the AA missippi braves pitching to help out next year.If it doesnt work we can go watch the Gwinett Braves and all the 4-A ex braves may actually play well back in tripleA.The real L.A.earthquake was the trade that will shake the rest of the american league and a manager who the game has not passed by in Mike Scosia.Give the world series to the angels.Peace and mudpies to the 08 season

By southbeachdietfreak

July 29, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this

Right now I got to say the Braves are the worst team in baseball Aaron

Been sayin’ that for awhile.

By Carl

July 29, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this

When are Baseball’s general managers going to finally stop giving in to Bor@ss and his babies. I mean, Tex is say how much he loves this town and the team and really wanted to stay. If that’s true then you make a deal everyone is happy with, but with Bor@ss you only make the deal he’s happy with. Baseball needs to take the power back away from this man. He’s ruining baseball for the average joe.

By E "Buzz" Miller

July 29, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this

We never should have traded for TEX in the first place….but since we did…….this is as good as you can ask for

By southbeachdietfreak

July 29, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this

Proeye,

with you all the way, buddy! Hopefully management is completely out of denial now.

By Stephen

July 29, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this

BOOOOOOOO What a horrible trade

By Judge & Jury

July 29, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

Is it too much to expect the AJC to break the story? The writer does go down to the stadium each day, right? How did he get scooped (again) by ESPN?

By Glynn

July 29, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this

Maybe we pulled the trigger to early, maybe we could have got more, but this isnt a bad deal. Casey is a good player that we will have for a few years, and the Angels gave up their starting 1B for a rental. If the Angels dont win a WS and dont keep Tex, then this trade is going to look a lot better for Atlanta come next year. Still, I say we never should have let Adam LaRoche go.

By THWT

July 29, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this

Agree with previous remarks by Fred, Casey, and Tin Man. Probably about as good a deal as Wren could swing.

You people that believe the Braves could have worked out something with him after the season are in big time denial. The aggressive offer in the Spring was rejected. He never gave any indication he wanted to stay and left smiling from ear to ear. ‘Thanks for the memories’? What are you talking about? The times he let us down in clutch situations? Good riddance!

We got screwed on this deal last year. And if the LAA don’t come up with some big bucks, they are going to get screwed as well. Been there, done that.

Revamp entire outfield. Go with young prospects, build the farm system, and quit trading away our top prospects.

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