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.

By Green

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

not quite a far trade, but a good trade for the braves in my opinion. Mark’s salary was 12.5 million this year, Caseys was around 1.5 million. So theres 10 million more dollars for next season, plus the extra 7,8,or 9 million Scotty B. woulda asked for Mark’s next contract.

Now, if the braves get rid of Hampton, thats 15 more million. So not even including Glavine, or Smoltz…. the Braves could already be looking at around 25 million dollars to spend in the off-season.

By Flustered Fan

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

I thought getting Kotchman was pretty good, but I think they could have gotten a better pitcher..this Marek guy has like a 3.66 era and is 2-6…don’t know about that one…wished we could have traded managers as well.

By gayle

July 29, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this

Bon Voyage, Mr. Tex as we watch yet another hired gun leave town - just like Drew and Sheffield.

The trade today was about as good as the Braves could do considering they showed their cards to those who couldn’t figure it out on their own.

The real dreadful trade is the one done a year ago when Tex and Mahay came here. Ownership rolled the dice on one - maybe two more playoff runs - hoping that aging bodies would persevere and the young bodies would mature faster than expected.

It didn’t work.

Ownership has just destroyed this team going for band aid after band aid. Now there are no more to pull off, the weakness of this team from top to bottom is exposed for all to see.

The reason that the Marlins have won two titles since the Braves got their only one is that they had the courage to dismantle the team and retool.

The quick fix route of Braves ownership will leave the Braves looking up at the others for years to come.

And what about Kotchman? The poor guy went from a World Series contender to a celler dweller.

By BIG MAC

July 29, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

I’d rather gone with the lesser 1b in Chad Tracy (who can also play 3b) and Micah Owings from the D-backs…that way Owens could play right field and bat 5th on the days he isn’t pitching.

By Train Wreck Bystander

July 29, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this

If I were wearing Frank Wren’s shoes, I would not have made this trade. I would have taken draft picks in lieu of being able to re-sign Tex.

We might have worked something out with Tex and we might not have… that’s in the realm of Harry Turtledove now. I wasn’t totally opposed to trading Tex.

But I would not have made this trade.

By GeorgeKaplan

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

From an Angel fan who has watched Kotchman for the last few years—you have a gem. He is just growing into his power. He may not hit more than 20-25 max, but he will also hit for high average and has some of the best hands at 1B you’ve ever seen—including Teixeira. He will make your infielders look very, very good.

Personally, I think this deal is an all-in for 2008. I don’t see a scenario where the Angels sign Teixeira beyond 2009, since both NY teams will be very interested in having him on their squads, and both teams have more cash to waste than just about any others, with their own sports channels and brand-new stadiums opening in 2009.

The Angels may well win the Series in 2008, but I don’t know what they’ll do come 2009.

Enjoy Kotch. His best years are still to come.

By Frustrated, Inc.

July 29, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this

Wow, the stupidity on display in this blog is amazing. You idiots know nothing about baseball and even less about the economics of the game. Everyone that thinks that Wren should have been able to pluck a major league ready player and the top two or three minor league prospects from the trading partner for a two month rental of Tex are just plain fooling themselves. At least you have something to p!$$ and moan about. For that I have to give Wren at 10 out of a possible 10 for this trade. What a bunch of losers errr, I mean bloggers…

By erik

July 29, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this

The Braves should trade Chipper and Francour too! Get something while you can, Chipper is getting old and Frenchy sucks. Acosta and Boyer should be dropped. Infintie,and Kotsay suck! The trade should help us, it’s not hard to take a step up from the floor. We need to go get younger arms and a few power hitters! Go Cubs for now!

By PapaGerald

July 29, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this

I’m disappointed that we didn’t get more for him, but you never know how these things will turn out. Isn’t Adam LaRoche about to be a free agent?

By gayle

July 29, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this

I wonder what the market is for a 67 year-old over the hill manager who is out of touch with his players and the game and - oh, he’s a genius with nicknames?

Who did we get? Kotchee?

By Glep

July 29, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this

If I was Kotchman,b4 I left town, I think I’d give the Angels’ GM a headlock beating like the guy did to the Houston GM earier this yr. Any body dealt to this team right now must feel like they have been banished to Siberia. Is anybody figuring out why the Orioles felt the way they did about Wren? Just give it a little more time and it will sink in.

By Chad

July 29, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

Yes, I’m very happy with this trade, Casey is good and young, and we will at least have him till 2011

By nas

July 29, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this

we gave up salty and a some other miscellaneous prospects to get tex and a solid reliever last year. Salty was garbage to the braves because we have hmm….i dunno…..BRIAN MCCAIN. so lets not cry about how we ‘gave up too much’ to get tex (and mahay) last year. Circumstances change. I really dont think the braves are being cheap. I think they prob offered Tex a sexy contract that would have been mad $$$ for any major leaguer, but because of Boras, Tex will spend more time moving than focusing on baseball. I applaud Frank Wren. This is the second really impressive trade that i’ve watched him pull off as GM. (the first obviously being Rentaria for JJ) It would have been awesome to watch Tex knock some more long balls for us, but that is just me being selfish as a fan, wanting the entertainment that a player of Mark Texieras caliber brings to the ball park everyday. But if the guy wants to make 20 million a year instead of 16 or 15 or however much the braves offered him, then screw him. How about some modesty, eh? Look at the Marlins. Look at their payroll. Anyone on this board who is blabbering about how “the braves are cheap!” and “what happened to liberty media shelling out some dough?” needs to maybe realize that collectively as a sport without a salary cap, the sooner that GMs stop offering blank checkbooks to MLB baseball players, the sooner the sport will be absolved of leeches like Scott Boras. Bravo Mr.Wren for not putting all your biscuits in Mark Texiera’s basket. Bravo. I raise my beer to you in a toast to the future of my beloved Braves.

By FJR

July 29, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this

I like Kotchman a lot. He beats the heck out of Owings, who won’t ever be any better than a replacement level ML pitcher and Tracy, who is Kasey Kotchman, except older, with a lower cieling and not as good of a fielder. Kotchman has hit a lot of doubles in a pitcher’s park, so look for those doubles to turn into homeruns as he continues to build strength. I’ll take a young guy with a big frame and doubles power over a guy with a lot of power with a bad approach any day.

The Braves tried like crazy to get Connor Jackson, but were repeatedly shot down by the d-backs. I actually like Kotchman better, as I think he’ll develop into a 30 homer guy and Jackson will likely always be an undisciplined all or nothing type hitter.

Think of this deal as essentially trading for Kotchman and Adam Dunn, as that’s the type of player the Braves will be able to sign because they have a good hitting frirst baseman for under 2 mill per year. And they’ll have money for a starting pitcher to compliment Hudson (assuming he is okay for next year) and Jurjjens. Then Campillo and someone out of Morton/Reyes/wildcard for the 5th spot.

I’m okay with Blanco in center as long as we git a big-time LF bat.

It’s not a GREAT deal in the way that the Jurjjens trade was, but its a good, solid deal that makes sense.

By A.S.

July 30, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this

Buster Olney of ESPN reports that the Brave got the best offer they could for Tex. There was no way Youkiis, Jackson or Schezer was headed to the Braves for Mark.

By TexFan

July 30, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this

This is baseball economics 101. We had to do something as Tex probably would’ve walked after the season. Just hate to see him go. What a player….

By 5447phil

July 30, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this

Casey nailed this situation. I was going to say the same thing, but he beat me to it (and said it better).

John Schuerholz screwsed us up with his idiotic trade to begin with and< after he didn’t win with Tex, left it to Wren to clean up the mess> of course, this was the same John Schuerholz who bought JD Drew for 6 months for Adam Wainwright

The D’Back’s did the right thing in not mortgaging their future for a 2-month wonder. It’s too bad we couldn’t find another John Schuerholz to deal with

By tj

July 30, 2008 1:41 AM | Link to this

To Gayle: Since you are so worried about Kotchman having to come to this “cellar dwelling team” and play for that “67 year old out of touch manager here is his feelings in his own words: When he received news of the trade, Kotchman said that he looked forward to playing for Braves manager Bobby Cox.

“I’ve just seen him from the outside, how he handles players, how he’s pulling for them,” Kotchman said. “I’m excited. There’s nothing negative out of this.”

And here’s what Tex had to say just for you:

“I told everyone I love playing here,” Texeira said. “I love this team. I love Bobby Cox. He’s an amazing man. He’s an amazing manager. When my career is over, I’ll be able to tell my kids and grandkids that I played for Bobby Cox, I played with Chipper Jones, I played with John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, and those are things that I’m going to be proud of.”

When told that Teixeira indicated he had envisioned playing the rest of his career with the Braves, Wren revealed that the Braves made a substantial contractual offer that was declined during Spring Training.

All you people who come on here just to bash Bobby need to get on the inside and talk to players, managers. and others who know something about baseball.

By SoCal Fan

July 30, 2008 1:44 AM | Link to this

You’ll like Kotchman. He’s a class act, a GREAT fielder (he’ll save runs), is one of the top five guys in baseball to strikeout and, believe it or not, pulverizes lefthanded pitching. If you saw him the last few seasons getting platooned against lefthanded pitching you’d be shocked to see him this year. But he worked hard at it because that’s what he does…he works hard. His salary is very low and a bargain. We’ll miss him.

By A Fan

July 30, 2008 1:51 AM | Link to this

Bring back LaRoche!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By AngelsFan

July 30, 2008 1:58 AM | Link to this

Atlanta fans are going to like Kotchman. Considering that they were going to lose Texeira anyway, they should be very happy with this deal. As an Angel fan I’m very disappointed to see him go considering that Texeira’s either going to stay for two months or cost $200M to stay, money that could have been better spent had Kotchman stayed in Anaheim. This is not the type of move the Angels are known for; it’s not how they’ve become solid contenders for some years now.

By Mike Friedman

July 30, 2008 2:14 AM | Link to this

Kotchman is a good player. He’s in the Mark Grace/Wally Joyner/Chris Chambliss line of first basemen. He’s better than a lot of the players that manned 1B during your championship era.

By Ronald Millsaps

July 30, 2008 2:25 AM | Link to this

After a long but very-productive day, I have mixed feelings about this trade. If Boston really did offer Kevin Youkilis for Mark Teixeira, I would’ve gone that route, and I’m not sure why the team wouldn’t have. However, I’m not saying Casey Cotchman was a bad acquisition. He provides more-productive at-bats and more consistency, which Teixeira has not provided this season, although, to his credit, he did do so for the team down the stretch last season. Obviously, the Braves felt that Teixeira was going to leave and wanted to get something in return for him en route to his exiting the door. I don’t think Teixeira was committed to this team. Again, according to Frank Wren, Teixeira declined a lucrative offer in the offseason, which speaks volumes against his soundbite earlier about wanting to finish his career in Atlanta. I’m frustrated with the Braves. Even with all the injuries, they should be playing better. By the way, why is no one mentioning how Chase Utley—a sniveling punk—went for Brian McCann’s head Sunday? Why did Bobby not retaliate? Also, this team has not hit many homers this season…about one every other game. Now with Teixeira gone, Chipper out, McCann out, etc., this team has to rely more than ever on run-manufacturing to win games, so why—why—why—does Bobby STILL not send Gregor Blanco very often? (I know he had at least four hits tonight. Did he attempt a steal even once?) Why have baserunners taken off too early lately? Why have few players succeeded in butting properly? Where’s the execution? Are these issues being addressed adequately in practice? This team seems ill-prepared oftentimes. Bobby’s very probably the best manager ever, but the fact that this team is below .500 in spite of having strong pitching and hitting throughout the season points to a lack of timing and chemistry, and for those two realities, I do blame him. Do these moderators ever censor anything? I don’t like hearing “screwed” get used as though it’s not profane. Of course, it’s no surprise, after they didn’t censor the sorry comments about Furman Bisher.

By Tony Dobson

July 30, 2008 4:22 AM | Link to this

Think Wren pulled the trigger too soon on this one. At worst the Angels’ offer wasn’t going anywhere, why not wait and see if something better comes along?

I was reading up on Wren’s past yesterday. I’d forgotten he lasted less than a year as GM in Baltimore and was the first in line to start undoing the good work Pat Gillick had done there. I can’t say I’ve got much confidence in him right now.

By BigGTMike

July 30, 2008 4:40 AM | Link to this

Kotchman has at least been average to below average at a career .274 BA and .763 OPS. His .774 OPS this year is 21st out of the 26 first basemen with enough ABs to qualify (around 275 ABs). His BA this season of .287 is 9th out of those same 26 first basemen. 71 singles, 24 doubles, and 12 homeruns, which puts him just a tad below average in the slugging component of his OPS.

The one positive that keeps being brought up is that he has only struck out 23 times. Well, he has also only walked 18 times. That is what again brings him down to 21st of out 26 first basemen in the OBP portion of OPS with a .327 OBP. He also sees 3.35 pitches per plate appearance, 26th out of 26th by a decent margin (25th sees 3.48 p/pa).

Just for a fun comparison, Francoeur has walked 25 times with 74 strikeouts and sees 3.43 pitches per plate appearance. Francoeur saw 3.34 pitches per plate appearance in 2006.

I’ll try not to get too technical on the fielding stats, but he has the same field percentage as Teix (.998) with a slightly lower range factor and zone rating, which to me at least, isn’t a huge deal, it’s not like he’s some stiff over there.

After all that statistical stuff, Kotchman is still not the part of the deal I have a problem with. Hopefully he will develop into a player that can go deeper in counts and continues to develop his power.

It’s the mediocre non-prospect of a reliever we got as a throw in that has me annoyed. Think Chris Resop as a most likely developmental outcome with maybe the upside to be Tyler Yates if everything goes best case scenario. Pathetic. The deal would almost be better with some Angels in the Outfield DVDs thrown in instead. Maybe we should pray for some Angels to help us; we’re gonna need it.

Why oh why wouldn’t we take 2 draft picks instead? We’d get whoever signed Teix’s first rounder and a sandwich round pick between the first and second rounds. For another fun comparison, Brian McCann was a 2nd round pick. But of course not all 2nd rounders become B-Mac.

Sure, the draft picks would take 3 to 5 years to get here, but it’s not like we’re going to be in “win now” mode if we aren’t big players in the free agent game this offseason. And what about the current situation makes one believe that we would be.

By Chief Nokahoma

July 30, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this

The team has a void in starting pitching because of all the injuries to the staff. Jo-Jo is a No-No, Campillo is already 30, Hampton will soon be back on the DL and the Wren answer is a Mark Grace type at first and a AA closer?

Yes, a trade was the only way but essentially you traded Salty and four prospects for Kotchman and Marek. Was that a good deal? Nope!

By tr

July 30, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this

Sure, I’d rather have Youkilis or Jackson, but they obviously weren’t available.

We took a shot with Tex, at a cost of some good young players that wouldn’t have helped this club any time soon, if at all. He helped even if it wasn’t enough to overcome so many other factors.

We got a solid young 1B for several years, a versatile young pitcher, AND a LOT of financial freedom for the off season. The latter is something that obviously escapes so many naysayers on this blog. Be patient and see what FW does with that part of the trade. We have yet to see the rest of this move. That money should buy a LOT of talent for next season to fill the few real holes this team has.

By JG 66

July 30, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this

Shows continued incompetence by the Braves management and the apparent aging of the “miracle boy” Shurholz. I can’t believe no pitching along with a so-so first baseman. Ridiculous!!

By Lawrence Rubenstein

July 30, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

All of you who moan about last years trade for Tex! What have all the 5 prospects actually accomplished at the major league level? Nothing!! We took a chance knowing that Smoltz, Chipper etc were getting old, OK it didn’t work mainly because of injuries, but it was worth the chance IMO. Now we regroup and if the money from the expiring contracts of Tex,Hampton, Glavine and probably Smoltz is used wisely wecould be right in the thick of things next year.

By RobT

July 30, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this

It’s a good trade if you figure Tex walks after this season. You aren’t getting a straight up trade with the new guy only about half the power of Tex but he’s not bad and is signed through 2011. The problem is the Braves gave up a ton for Tex a year ago with the idea that they were going to the post season. That didn’t happen and now Tex walks away for very little in return considering what the Braves gave up to get him. Also, now that the Braves have obviously given up on this season does that mean they are going to drop ticket prices? You shouldn’t have to pay MLB ticket prices to watch a AA level team. Who wants to pay $40 a pop to watch the Braves get hammered by St. Louis or Phili every day?

By elainer7

July 30, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

Stick a fork in this team. They were done before the season started and trades like this are to blame.

By Stuart

July 30, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

The trade that is still haunting the braves is the Gonzo for LaRoche Trade. Gonzo has not done anything If the braves had never traded LaRoche, they would not have the Thorman error that caused the need to rent Tex.

This team has no pitching. It has not had it for years now. Name the last good arm our system developed. It was not going to win last year, it was not going to win this year. It will not win for the forseeable future.

By Dave

July 30, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

One must consider the assumptions and the alternatives when evaluating this trade.

FIRST ASSUMPTION: The Braves could NOT compete for the rest of this season and HAD to get something MORE than two compensatory draft picks for Tex.

This is a VALID assumption. Had the Braves NOT lost the last two games in Philly and the first game of this current homestand, then MAYBE you could make the argument that the Braves still had a good chance to make the playoffs.

But now, 8.5 games out of first place and with Hudson lost for the season (and maybe PART of next season), the Braves will be lucky to finish at .500.

SECOND ASSUMPTION: The Braves HAD to get a replacement first baseman, an good-hitting outfielder and a starting pitcher for Tex.

Given the fact that Tex IS going to be a free agent at the end of the year, getting all three of those needs filled was virtually impossible. NO TEAM would give up that much talent to “rent” a player for two months plus the playoffs.

REALISTIC ALTERNATIVES:

• Red Sox offering Youkalis plus a pitcher? ONLY IF Manny were traded would the Red Sox give up Youkalis, since he has performed at a MVP level for Boston this season. With Manny in the lineupo, Boston does NOT NEED Tex’s bat.

• Diamondbacks offering Conor Jackson and a pitcher (maybe Micah Owens)? THAT would have been the ideal trade IMHO, but everything I have read says that Arizona would NOT give up Jackson.

• Dodgers offering Loney and a pitcher. This is on par with what the Braves finally got from the Angels, but apparently LA did not think Tex was worth it.

Did we get a fair deal?? All things considered, YES, we did!!

Kotchman should be a solid first baseman for the next three years. He may not hit for power like Tex, but his average will be about the same, with only a slight decrease in defense.

The key will be how Marek performs in the future years. If he turns into another Jurgens, the trade will e steal of the century.

Finally, Frank Wren is probably NOT DONE! Will Ohman, Mike Gonzales and Mark Kotsay are all pending free agents who can bring a nice return in terms of prospects. We STILL need a good hitting outfielder and serviceable starting pitching.

There are also rumors that Kelly Johnson and maybe even Jeff Franceour may be available for the right price. I hope not, as both of these young players are part of the young nucleas of this club, but you never know!

The next few days should be interesting…

By Branch Rickey

July 30, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

THE BRAVES ARE NOW A LOW BUDGET, SMALL MARKET TEAM. TED TURNER AND HIS WALLET ARE LONG GONE. GET USED TO IT !

SMOLTZ, GLAVINE & HAMPTON WILL BE OFF THE BOOKS IN 2 MONTHS. LIBERTY WILL LIMIT THE PAYROLL TO NO MORE THAN 70 MILLION.

By Buzz Capra

July 30, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

The Tex acquisition last July will rank with the Dusty Baker & Brett Butler trades as the WORST trades in Atlanta history !

By jks

July 30, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

For the most part, tt was what the market could bear. Few clubs needed a 1st Baseman/DH, so it was definitely a buyer’s market. Of course, when you consider that we gave up 5 guys to get Tex in the first place…. Curious that Wren didn’t hold out a little later.

By Ryan

July 30, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

Branch- If you paid attention to what is happening with the BRAVES, you would remember that Liberty can not reduce the payroll and had promised not only to not do that but they would increase it every year to make the team more competitive, so dont act like you know what your talking about. Your just a Braves fan that thinks they know it all, and only likes them when they are winning, shut your mouth and understand the facts of the deal.

By braves01

July 30, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

I think the Braves did the best they could. It’s better to get casey kotchman and a prospect rather than see mark t walk away in free agency. The Braves will have 40 million to spend in free agency though. The Braves might try to get Ben Sheets or CC Sabithia to go with Jair Jurrjens and hopefully Tim Hudson. That would change us to contenders. We also need a bat in the outfield

By R1U

July 30, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Everyone but Chipper and McCann is available. Kotchman is trade bait. This is a silly deal for a silly team right now. Everyone is now in showcase mode. Could be a good thing…it has been a circus so far this year. If it starts at the top then look at what has happened at the top in the last few years…Dayton, JS.

What the Braves did was unprecedented and still people didn’t show their support in the final 5 years of that run. It was over in 96 with Leyritz’s HR. the Braves died that night — but no one had the nerve to tell them —-then when we sort of came back to life —-we ran into Eric Gregg’s strike zone in Miami. it makes for good stories but terrible ulcers for fans.

By Kenneth Simpson

July 30, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

The braves should have received more than they did for Tex. They gave up the farm to rent him for one year and only got 1 player back and one “iffy” prospect which they will give away if he is any good. That is what they usually do with good pitchers like Adam Wainwright and others. I don’t care if they never win another game. They suck!

By Gary Sanchez

July 30, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Can Bobby Cox be the next one to go?

By Robert Wolff

July 30, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Tex should have been the guy the Braves built a future around. Switch hitting and great defense. Thanks Braves for not investing again in Atlanta’s baseball future. Watch the crowds go by-by as it did in the 80’s.

By Michael

July 30, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

This is a BAD trade! I was listening to Dave O’Brien on 680 The Fan minutes before the trade was announced. He was talking about how the Braves were in the driver’s seat with the Angles, Diamondbacks, Red Soxs & Yankees all bidding for Teixeira. Then the next thing I hear is the trade & I was livid! How can we only get a serviceable major leaguer & a mid level pitching prospect? Maybe its because we’re trading 2 days before the deadline! This deal should have been made at the last minute & if we couldn’t get at least a good major leaguer & two good arms then don’t make a deal. I’m really starting to question Frank Wren decisions. My issues is not with trading its Tex its what we got or make that didn’t get in return!

Are the 3 years up yet for Liberty media yet?!? The Braves, Hawks & Thrashers all need to be sold to owners willing & able to spend the cash it takes to win! What’s sad is the Braves are in this position because corporate owners have limited the spending. If Ted Turner could have kept himself as the sole owner when the Time Warner deal was done then the Braves most likely would not be in this position. Being a Cowboys fan I love having an owner willing to spend what he needs to be competitive. (Of course I hope the salary cap does go away so he can spend all he wants to!) Spending wisely is works too but right now I’m not sure the Braves are going to do either.

By S. Mauney

July 30, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

We got screwed. The season has been bad enough only to hear that we traded away Tex. I personally would have taken my chances and kept him and see what happened in the off season. I really feel that we could have kept him and built our team around him. We had to give up 5 players to get Tex and all we get are 2. There is something missing there. I don’t see the Braves being any better for at least another 3-5 years. Thanks for trading away all of the good up and coming players.

As long as you have the current owners we will never be any good. You will need someone like Ted Turner willing to take chances to have a winning ball club again.

Also please fire our hitting coach, it you can call him one. Watch, see if Tex doesn’t start hitting even better with a different hitting coach.

By timthebrave

July 30, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

You have to think that the trade was Kotchman for 3 years and 2 months for Tex for 2 months. So it was a good move by both teams. The angels got the better player and a chance to win this year and the braves got a solid 1st baseman and a chance to spend money on a #1 starter.

By Price

July 30, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

You never know how good someone is going to be without giving them some time to come in, adjust, and start swinging th bat around. Remember when the Atlanta Falcons drafted this QB in the draft one time, the QB became a drunk, was horrible here in Atlanta. The falcons traded him to Green Bay for Hershal Walker, an amazing college running back for a drunk and horrible QB. The QB’s name: Brett Favre

By PTC DAWG

July 30, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

The OWNERS of the Braves don’t care, why should I?

By Christian Schultz

July 30, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

We gave up a switch hitter. We kept a 2nd baseman that can’t throw to 1st base. We kept and outfielder who can’t bat. We kept a manager who can’t manage.

Now I know how Cubs fans feel.

By opie south

July 30, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

Next year everyone will be singing praises for the trade. Braves were not going to sign Tex and his agent. Kochman is going to be better than most presume. Remember he is only 25. I like the trade and don’t sell Marek short. The Braves are two starting pitchers and Jason Bay from being contenders next year. Now get Bay by tomorrow. Get the pitchers over the winter via free agency.

By WHS82

July 30, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Good deal. We lost a lot to get Tex, but he was not going to stay. Get something now, as opposed to letting him walk for nothing. Tex was offered a deal in the spring, but he and Boras said they were going to test the market (i.e. leave ATL). There just are not a lot of 1st basemen available, and we got a young kid (a year older then McCann and Francoeur) who has a lot of potential. As much as it hurts me to say it, the Braves run is over (has been for a few years now), and it is time to rebuild. It has been a fun ride, but now it is time to replenish the stock and build for another run.

By Bama

July 30, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Troy Percival said the Braves got a good deal because in year or two the AA pitcher would be in majors, very upside. Also Kotchman was very good player.

This trade is not the Braves problem. No matter what McGuirk, Wren and Cox say the Braves do not have a group of good player. Just look at yesterdays line up, is that a core of good players? They think the Fans are crazy and believe their BS. They need to get rid of about 10 players plus Bobby Cox and Coaching staff. It don’t matter what fans want “The Three stooges run the show!”

By Ray

July 30, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

I don’t think its a bad trade. IF Tex wants lets say 16m a year and kotchman gets a raise lets say to 5m. Is Tex 11m better than Kotchman. IMO I don’t think he is. Now what the braves do with that money is a key. Also there are semi conflicting reports that the braves offered tex an aggressive deal in Spring training. He says he didn’t receive any offers. One of those where SBoras killed it? Not a bad trade. Great trade, no decent yes.

By jimcpa

July 30, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

77% of the Braves payroll, if you include Hampton who should be, is on the D/L!! Anyone else see the interesting correlation between the breakdown of pitchers, the firing of the conditioning coach (Fultz) for unspecified reasons, and the MLB crackdown on steroids????? Sumpin dirty this way comes..or has been coming for quite a while

By Fred G. Sanford

July 30, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Good trade or not? Why not look at what we gave up to get Tex one short year ago versus what we got for trading him. Leads me to believe it’s a bad trade.

By Bob

July 30, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

The Braves should have kept Teixeira, then built around him. He is a quality player but the Braves were too cheap to pay him what he’s worth. The Angels just bought themselves the American League pennant and maybe the World Series. What is wrong with the Braves Management. If you want to win then you have to spend money to get quality players.

By Reality Time

July 30, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

Can we stop with the Tex is “heating up” and would have carried us the rest of the season. We have heard “Tex is heating up” for two and a half months, and it just hasn’t happened. He is a good guy, he is great defensive 1st baseman, but he never intended to stay in Atlanta, he was a rent a player, and just kept his stats high enough not to tube his prospects. We got what he was willing to give, we weren’t going to get anymore.

By Drixie

July 30, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

This was a good deal. Tex is a very good ballplayer but we were under .500 for the year he was with us, so he was not the impact player that Fred McGriff was for us. Kotchman is a good player with the potential to be even better, and it will be a bonus if Marek develops as a major league pitcher.

By Will

July 30, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

At this point they couldnt have asked for a better deal. Of course they still lost some good prospects last year trading for Tex, but there was no taking that back and this deal had to be done.

By Erik

July 30, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

We offered tex a contract in spring training that according to Wren would have made him one of the highest paid players in baseball. Tex turned it down so the braves had to trade him! As far as return I think Kotchman will be a solid player and borderline All star in the next three years. However I would have liked to see more young talent coming in maybe a two for two deal. Tex and Ohman for Kotchman and Adenhart. Or maybe Tex and Ohman for Adenhart, Wood, and Petit O’ Sullivan. That way we could sign a temp 1B like Giambi to fill in while Heyward developes. We also could gain more trading chips for the future. Plus with a group of young starting pitchers like Adenhart,JJ, Campillo, Morton, JoJo, Hanson, we could rule the world.

By John

July 30, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Here we go again! The ownership is committed to mediocrity and will continue to be so unless the fans leave and do not buy tickets by the thousands. When does football season start?

By GG

July 30, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

I’ve been a Braves fan for 40 years. I go to 15 to 20 home games a year. It seems to me they have no desire to put the best team possible on the field to win. As of today I am done with the Braves. All they care about is dollars and cents. AS of today I will not even check out the box scores.

By larry

July 30, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

I live is So. Cal and am a avid Brave and Angel fan. You will love Kotch, he is a great fielder and a great contact and clutch hitter. Just coming into his own. I was sorry to see him go, but the Angels are going for the ring this year and I can’t knock that.

By ATLawk

July 30, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Wow! We got that underachieving bum Kotchman for Tex? Wren is already 0-1. Connor Jackson would’ve been a much better fit here.

By R. Jackson

July 30, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

I may be in the minority, but trading Tex at a time that he was a major player in the Braves linup was a stupid move.

He is young, talented, a fine fielder and was as good as any other player in helping to support a struggling team.

Sorry, the Braves management has made way too many stupid mistakes!

By R. Jackson

July 30, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I may be in the minority, but trading Tex at a time that he was a major player in the Braves linup was a stupid move.

He is young, talented, a fine fielder and was as good as any other player in helping to support a struggling team.

Sorry, the Braves management has made way too many stupid mistakes!

By Drew Brown

July 30, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Angel fan here. You’ll love Kotchman. He’s Teixeira with less power. Just as good defensively. Not a switch hitter, but the rare lefty who hits better against lefties. Hardest guy to strike out in the AL. Gap power that will grow into more HRs. Seems to be a well liked, quality guy. Only knock is that he’s been injury prone, but he’s not a reckless ballplayer, and most of his injuries have been bad luck (have you ever heard of an athlete missing an entire season to mono!?).

I’m sorry to see him go…but looking forward to the big bat in our lineup for a run thru October.

By Drew Brown

July 30, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Angel fan here. You’ll love Kotchman. He’s Teixeira with less power. Just as good defensively. Not a switch hitter, but the rare lefty who hits better against lefties. Hardest guy to strike out in the AL. Gap power that will grow into more HRs. Seems to be a well liked, quality guy. Only knock is that he’s been injury prone, but he’s not a reckless ballplayer, and most of his injuries have been bad luck (have you ever heard of an athlete missing an entire season to mono!?).

Don’t think it’s apples to apples to compare this trade to last year (Fred G. Sanford, et al). Last year, the Braves traded for 1 1/2 years of Teixeira under control. The Angels are trading for 2+ months. You shouldn’t expect the same return.

I’m sorry to see him go…but looking forward to the big bat in our lineup for a run thru October.

By Art

July 30, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

OK Tex is gone and now the Braves need to move forward. Trade B Jones,, Lillibridge, Jo Jo and a minor leaguer to the Pirates for Jason Bay. The offense and defense will be better and then the Braves can win.

By GM

July 30, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

The Braves made absolutely the right decision. You have to look at it from this perspective. Was Tex a difference maker on this team? Did he carry this team and come through with clutch hits when they needed it…the answer is no. Was his perceived value worth investing $20 mill for the next 6 plus years…the answer is no. Don’t get me wrong, Tex has very nice statistics, but he has never been the type of player that carries a team on his back. This Braves team absolutely needed him to fill that role. He is a perfect complimentary piece to add to an established team. Unfortunately, the Braves are not that team.

Frank Wren was in the unenviable position of having to salvage something with very little leverage. He did fairly well if you look at just this trade in regards needs/contracts. Kotchman is a young, up & coming first baseman, who fills a need and has +++ potential (and is under contract till 2010). The true test will come in this off season when the Braves will have “money to spend”. If Liberty Media is true to their word, then we should be able to add some niece pieces in free agency. Only time will tell.

By aserby

July 30, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

The Braves could have signed Texeira for the long term or actively been in the mix after the season, if they were actually determined to build a consistent winner for the future. After all, they traded a lot to get him in the first place and McCann alone cannot carry the future. They need power and defense. They got very little in the trade. The people in Denver don’t call the shots. Liberty could care less. The group running the Braves, McGuirk et al, will probably end up owning the team and so far it looks like they will give us another dose of the Atlanta Spirit with an uninspired, underfinanced rebuiding.

By Steve

July 30, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

The Braves will trade Kotchman before the 2010 season because Freddie Freeman (Rome Braves)will be ready for the bigs.

By vic

July 30, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Trade Frenchy, can’t no other team wants him (bowman), yet Bobby keeps him in line up. good old bobby, stand by your man. good old corky can’t hit 099 ba. last night couldn’t throw. bobby’s boy. norton can’t throw ,last night give it away. bobby’s boy. on we go with the great bobby cox boys. sign him for another year.

By Andy

July 30, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Texas offered Tex a huge contract before he was traded and he turned it down. The Braves made a very reasonable offer during spring training and that was turned down also according to Wren. I love Tex but it was pretty clear to me that he was looking to break the bank with this next contract and didn’t really care where he played. You add to that the Boras factor and it was clear to me that Tex was never going to resign with the Braves. I think it’s a little disingenuos for Tex to say that he wanted to stay with Atlanta. If he did then why didn’t he sign the contract during spring training? I think the Braves did the best they could given the circumstances. I would have loved to have Jackson from Arizona but Kotchman is a fine player.

By Robert

July 30, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

This is a horrible move. I’d rather keep Teixeira just half a season than have this no-talent “project.” Since 1991, the Braves had respect in baseball…that respect is gone now. There’s nothing left. Even Chipper’s chance at the battling title is ruined without a backup player. This trade isn’t just a loss of Texieira…it’s a loss of faith in the Braves management. Frank Wren has got to go.

P.S. I never expect more than a yes-man response from Mark Bradley. Don’t tell me this is a good trade. It didn’t have to be done, and we didn’t get anything for it.

Atlanta Braves 1991-2008 RIP

By NY.METS

July 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Who cares,the braves organization don’t have a clue what there doing anyway.you give up great prospects to get tex then turn around and get a average player.you give away salty,elvis,ect….for a player you later get rid of?Im done wit the braves and baseball for that matter,this is a juiced up game anyway.Im sure there were a lot of info brushed under the table to protect the game.

By Wink from Lithonia

July 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

No we got nothing for Tex? We gave up five players which included Salty; who we could have converted to a first baseman. We also should have kept Langerhans for what we got in trade from Angles. Big loss - the pitcher was a throw in who has not developed. So it appears we got something, as oppose to losing him in free agency for nothing, but the end result is nothing gained.

By Wink from Lithonia

July 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

No we got nothing for Tex? We gave up five players which included Salty; who we could have converted to a first baseman. We also should have kept Langerhans for what we got in trade from Angles. Big loss - the pitcher was a throw in who has not developed. So it appears we got something, as oppose to losing him in free agency for nothing, but the end result is nothing gained.

By Brock

July 30, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Nas- totally agree. I have been a fan of Teixeira since his days at Tech. He is an excellent ballplayer and any team would be happy to have him. I wish him luck and success in his carreer. That being said I think this was the best deal we could have hoped for. I think Tex was smiling because he is going to a team that has a chance to make it to the WS. I want to think Tex would stay with a team that has that potential but time will tell. If the Angels get to the WS or close and Tex resigns with them or another team that has said potential then we will know he’s in it for the game. If he goes to a team with no future (pirates, nationals, royals etc..) then I will be very disappointed in knowing it’s about the money.

By Brock

July 30, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

NY Mets- I quess your namesake is why you are so angry? What the hell are you talking about? What does the “juiced up” and “brushed under the table” comments have to do with this topic? Do us Braves fans and baseball a favor and stay away from the game. Geez!!

By THE BEAR

July 30, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

I don’t understand why the Angels made this deal. They gained 30-35 RBI’s over a season and a few HR’s. And they gained a salary that is going to be a monster for them to pay if they want to keep Tex beyond this year. Both players are good with a glove.

At the end of this season the Angels are likely to have a gaping hole at first base while the Braves will have a good first baseman for three more years at an affordable price. I hope the Angels have another first baseman in their system or if not, are prepared to shell out $20+ mil a year for the next 5-7 years.

Prediction: The Braves are going to be a lot happier about this deal than the Angels are going to be.

One other thing for you nay sayers. The Braves got Tex for a year and a half when they traded for him. The Angels are only getting him for a half year. Yeah, the Braves made a heck of a good deal.

By Jake

July 30, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Wren waited too long to trade when it was clear to everyone else back in June this was not a playoff calibre team.

But for the timing, I think he got the best he could. And remember Tex is no All-Star. He didn’t put the Braves over the top last year. He is a solid player he is not going to shoulder the load.

By BlackberryCobbler

July 30, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Was it a good deal……… hell, who knows. It depends on WHAT ELSE the Braves can accomplish. Right now, the projected lineup has no pitching, no power except for McCann and injury-prone Chipper, and not enough speed.

Go get another power bat and some pitching and the Tex deal won’t matter. Fail to do this and it’s gonna be bleak at the Ted for a long, long time.

The Braves have a lot more holes to fill before this team would ever be competitive again.

By robert

July 30, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Angel fan here..I am NOT happy about this trade. You got a very good player that won’t cost a Brinks truck of money!

By robert

July 30, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Angel fan here..I am NOT happy about this trade. You got a very good player that won’t cost a Brinks truck of money!

By robert

July 30, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Angel fan here..I am NOT happy about this trade. You got a very good player that won’t cost a Brinks truck of money!

By Russ

July 30, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

NO!!!!!!!

The Atlanta Spirit must be running this team too…

Mark Wren your a joke and fool, go kill yourself!

Bring JS back!!! Yes I said it!

By Russ

July 30, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

NO!!!!!!!

The Atlanta Spirit must be running this team too…

Mark Wren your a joke and fool, go kill yourself!

Bring JS back!!! Yes I said it!

By Russ

July 30, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

NO!!!!!!!

The Atlanta Spirit must be running this team too…

Mark Wren your a joke and fool, go kill yourself!

Bring JS back!!! Yes I said it!

By russ

July 30, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

Robert,

SHUT UP!!! You know you are happy about that trade because your ball club will probably cough up the money to keep him and you got a GREAT player for a while (if you sign him)

plus… your more and likely going to win the WORLD SERIES!!!

So get off of our blog and go be happy!

By Russ

July 30, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Sorry bout the kill yourself comment… was out of line… but i still think mark wren is a fool and joke

By dru

July 30, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

isn’t Owings from Georgia? We should have gone for that deal. Tracy and a MLB ready SP? Why not?

By Michael

July 30, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

On SI.com: Major league executives believe the Braves did very well to get young first baseman Casey Kotchman (plus minor league pitcher Stephen Marek) for star first baseman Mark Teixeira, who’s on the cusp of free agency. Maybe they didn’t quite recoup what they sent Texas for Teixeira — catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Elvis Andrus, pitcher Matt Harrison, etc. — but Kotchman is a solid, slick-fielding first baseman. “Great deal by the Braves,” said one NL executive.

Hmm, Major League executives or local Atlanta blogger? That’s a tough call.

By Enough

July 30, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

Wow…This organization has turned back the clock to mid to late eighty’s! We gave up good prospects to get Tex. What have we gotten in return? There are so many others who need to go as well. FRENCHY! KJ! Boyer! Acosta! Liberty, wake up and spend money!!! What a mediocre organization we have now.

By Frank

July 30, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

2009 is starting to look up…plenty of payroll to lock up quality guys like Corky, Norton, Boyer, Buddy and Ring.

By tr

July 30, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

dru

Yes, Owings is from Georgia, but that’s hardly a good reason to get him. Yes, he has been in the majors, but the only team that hasn’t pounded his pitching was the Braves. In fact, when it was apparent the deal with Atlanta wasn’t going to happen, they sent him back to the minors. His real “claim to fame” was that he is an excellent hitter for a pitcher.

We got the better deal. Kotchman not only fills the 1B hole as a good defender, he is a better hitter against left-handers than anybody we have - a real Braves weakness. And he was known for his clutch hits, especially late in games - another Braves weakness. We’ll have control over him for three more years for a lot less money than Tex, money that we can spend on starting pitching and a power outfielder. The other kid, a RHP, has both started and relieved for the Angels farm teams. Our scouts usually do a pretty good job on that front (see JJJ, and Gorkys, etc…), so he should be decent at worst.

We all wanted more, but realistically, this was pretty good under the circumstances.

By larch

July 30, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Angel fan, here. Atlanta, you got a great player. We love Kotch. The Baltimore manager has recently said that he thinks Kotchman is the best fielding firstbaseman, in baseball. He does not strike out. And compare the numbers. His RBI’s are low because he bats second and the hitter’s who bat ahead of him just dont get on base (catchers and Figgins). Kotchman numbers are against tough AL pitchers. Kotch must be delighted that he will be batting against the “JVs”.

There was a lot of national media talk that the Angels should trade for players like Holliday and Dunn, but, most Angel fans (and maybe Angel management) did not think these players could hit AL pitching. But Teixeira is different, he is a former Al’er.

We Angels are now one of the top four baseball operations in baseball, We are not thinking of winning a division, but only thinking of winning the World Series (anything less will be a dis-appointment). I guess our management only consideration in a close game, who will be most likely to deliver a clutch hit agains a ‘Rivera’ or ‘Papilon’, Kotch or Tex?

Personalily, I would rather have given you Vlad or Rivera.

By DirtyDawg

July 30, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Tried to post this earlier but it didn’t take…the Tex deal was a loser a year ago, so if whatever we got from the Angels was anything at all, it was something salvaged from a terrible deal.

I think the reason the Braves keep pushing Frenchy out there is in the belief/hope that if they allow him to rub his own nose in just how inept he has become, even he, along with his daddy and agent, Lonnie Cooper, will finally come to the realization that he needs to admit he’s got some learnin’ to do and listen to those that keep trying to get his mind, and instincts, focused on going to right.

And finally, how many others found his, Francoeur’s, comments about how the injuries cost us the season ludicrous, when we all know that if he had done the job he seems to think he’s capable of, this team would be at the top, if not leading, the NL East. I don’t think that Cox or the Braves care anything for his mouthing off at being sent down and would like to think his performance this season will knock some of the snot-nose out of him and open his thick skull to some coaching - that assumes the Braves have somebody that can actually teach him how to hit.

By Pete

July 30, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

The pathetic Braves. They’re back to 1990…….or worse. Total collapse.

By George Bartenfeld

July 30, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

So Salty is the worst catcher in the American league,Could he be any worse than Miller of the N.L. braves I would take Salty over Miller in a minute At least maybe he could fill in at First Base, miller has trouble just getting to the Dug Out.

By Dr. R

July 30, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

As usual, Braves fans have an inflated sense of what they can get in a trade. You’re dealing a two-month rental with Scott Boras in tow, with only a handful of contending teams in need of a first sacker anyway. You weren’t going to get the moon with a fence around it. I think getting a major-league quality first baseman, albeit not a big run producer, is a decent price. They can anchor him at first and pursue bats and arms elsewhere over the winter (a left fielder with pop could replace Tex’s bat, for instance). It wouldn’t be a bad idea to go in the direction of pitching, defense and speed and be willing to go light on power; Turner Field is a decent-sized yard that rewards gap hitters like Kotchman. But again, you weren’t going to get Phil Hughes or Clay Buchholz for a guy who’s 10 weeks from free agency. Just not gonna happen.

By Pro and the Joe

July 30, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Braves did not get enough in return, but they did get just about all they could in the trade. There weren’t a whole lot of options on the table. They filled a hole at 1B for the next few years and now don’t have to worry about even attempting to sign Tex (which they weren’t going to do anyway). Check our site and discuss…

http://proandthejoe.blogspot.com

By Ken

July 30, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

We now need three outfielders who can hit, hopefully with some power. We also need a second baseman who can field and hit. Surely there’s one somewhere that Atlanta can get. Finally, who thinks Tex is going to get an offer of $20 million or more next year. I don’t think he’s worth anything close to $20 million.

By Dr. R

July 30, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this

Braves fans, quit your whining and get over this sense of entitlement. Dang, you won for 14 straight years and now you’re beeyotching over a couple of mediocre seasons? This ain’t Valdosta football when you win every year. It’s pro sports, where staying on top for even a handful of years is a big accomplishment. But all we hear is “Fire Cox! Trade Francoeur!” Hell if you feel that way, don’t buy tickets. It’ll leave more seats for the rest of us. I’m sure y’all will be back on the bandwagon in a few years.

By Dr. R

July 30, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Pro and Joe, read your blog. You guys do realize there is a bit more to this game than home runs, right? I’ll take Kotchman, his smooth glove and his high-contact, gap-hitting bat over a Scott Thorman any day. The Braves lost in the 70s and 80s because they went after a bunch of slow, big-butted sluggers who couldn’t play. And they got embarrassed every time they played the Whiteball Cardinals and their slap and dash style. Pitching, defense and timely hitting win games. Home runs are nice on SportsCenter highlights but not required.

By Rhubarb

July 30, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

For all you geniuses who think that freeing up payroll is going to produce C.C. and/or Sheets and power-hitting ourfielders—and maybe a second baseman, too: What makes you think Atlanta Spirit…oh, sorry, Liberty is going to spend the money? And, just as a matter of interest, if you were a big name free agent, would you come play for this organization (which is in total disarray) and its pitiful collection of talent?

By kd

July 30, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

This is a completely moot discussion. How do we know what was even offered to know if it was enough? You can’t base your opinion on gossip and heresay. The topic in itself is stupid because we can’t possibly know what else was on the table.

Regardless, we get a competent, maturing 1B and save between 12-18 million (depending on Boras). That can buy a #1 pitcher or a #3 pitcher and decent OF.

By wait and see

July 30, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

Obviously, when compared to what we gave up for Tex, this is not even. But you’re not going to get as much for a guy who’s definitely going on the FA market to get a big payday as you would for a guy who’s got a year of arbitration left. This deal should not be viewed as a failure because of that.

The deal to get Tex was obviously a failure, as we didn’t get to the postseason either year, and it’s highly unlikely all the prospects we gave Texas will flop.

Wren obviously felt that Tex wasn’t going to give us a discount, despite his GT ties and how much he said he loves playing for the Braves, and signing Tex for what he can get this offseason would probably not leave us room to sign another top of the rotation starter and get a power hitter for LF.

Kotchman’s salary and arbitration status should give Wren the ability to acquire those 2 pieces, and maybe even shore up the bench or the ‘pen. If we can pick up those 2 pieces, either by trade or by a FA signing in the offseason, we could have a very good chance of making the postseason next year. We may not be able to judge how good of a move this trade actually is until sometime this winter.

By Dr. R

July 30, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

Actually, many players would love to come to Atlanta, for a number of reasons. For one, there is a history of a franchise that’s been successful. There’s a manager known baseball-wide as a great guy to play for, more appreciated by people in the game than the cement-headed football fans in his home city. The first thing players say when they join the Braves is that they are looking forward to playing for Bobby Cox. And there is the city itself, which is a great place to live and raise a family or, if you’re single, enjoy the nightlife (this just in: ballplayers are people, with families and social lives). So yet another show of abject ignorance.