Tuhshareuh

Do the Angels finally have the bat to match the gloves? Dude is a true legit hitter and he might be just what LA has needed. If only they had gotten a hitter like this to protect Vlad when he was in his prime.

AL playoffs just got a little more interesting...

Wait, so the Angels had to give up actual MLB players to get an all-star? They need to call Cashman and see how you work out the "rape the other franchise in a deal" scam he has been living on.

First Impression: REALLY like the trade. Kotchman is good and will be a solid player for a long time, but I don't think he's ever going to be a slugger like Teixeira. Teixeira is a stud and adds a ton to the Angels line-up. I can see the Angels re-signing him too. They have the money and they'll need a new face of the franchise with Vlad in decline and Garret Anderson's contract up after this year. And even if they lose him to free agency, they'll get compensatory draft picks to make up for what they just traded away.

Tony Reagins didn't waste any time putting his stamp on the Angels during his first year as GM. He landed Torii Hunter to make up for the Gary Matthews Jr. debacle and basically to give the Halos a new team captain. Then he makes the biggest trade the franchise has made since they gave up on Jim Edmonds prior to 2000.

I figured you'd like the trade...kind of hard not to. You're absolutely right about the Angels having the pockets to give him a long-term as well. And being that this will be his first time with a bona fide contender, I'd think that he would want to stick around. His comments the other day about looking forward to free agency so he can "finally call the shots" (or something to that effect) might have me a little worried that he could be a highest-bidder type, but the Angels can probably throw just as much coin as anyone.

The dude is a legit swtich hitter and a hoss of a man. I've seen him at the Phillies park 3 times and I've come away impressed each time. If Vlad were still 29, these two would be a ridiculous back-to-back.

I don't know much about the Angels order though...I thought Vlad and Torii were currently 4-5. Are they going to slide everyone up and one and go Vlad-Tex-Torii 3-4-5?

First of all, why are you blaming Cashman if another team AGREES to a trade? It's not as if the Yankees are backing St. Louis into a corner and demanding the Cards hand over Pujols in exchange for Alberto Gonzalez, leaving them with no choice but to take the deal. It takes two to tango.

Second, let's not overstate the value of Marte and Nady. Both are decent players having good years. But I don't think anyone, Yankees fan or Yankees hater, thought back in April, "Hey, we have a good team. But if only we could add Marte and Nady, that would really complete the club." Marte is on his fifth team in 10 years, Nady was about a .270 career hitter coming into this season (in the National League, no less.) By the way, did you see Marte last night? His job is to come in and get guys out, not allow three-run doubles that break games wide open. So don't act like the Yanks gave up four chumps in exchange for two major difference makers.

Third, why are you so bitter? Your team has won two World Series in the last four years, and they're ahead of the Yankees in the current standings. And almost every time you pick up some other team's trash (Ortiz, Lowell, Drew for example) they turn into All-Stars. You guys got Beckett when we got Pavano. You signed Dice-K and we got Igawa. And still the bitterness...

You have to live in Yankchester, I mean Rochester, to understand the venom. I can't walk 5 feet without being inundated with NYY. The myopia in this town is out of control. Perhaps it is the vocal minority but every Yankee fan I hear from tells me how the Red Sox suck and the Yankees are clearly a better team.

As far as Cashman goes, it's pure jealousy. I wanted the Red Sox to give the Phillies a bunch of crap for Abreu. I wanted the Red Sox to give up some has been prospects for some bullpen help.

I have a question for inkman: What does Brian Cashman have anything to do with this discussion???

Great trade for the Angel$

Well, inkman....it is true, you know.

Time will tell on this one. Will he help the Anglss this year? Sure, but they're on a tear right now without Teixeira but if he's only around for a playoff run this year and gone next what the hell was the point? The Angels were the best team in baseball prior to the trade and could go deep into the playoffs. They seem to have gotten the Red Sox monkey off their back this year and the Yankees don't scare them at all. Who's left, the 'Rays? As a VERY long Angels fan I'm not 100% pleased with the move. Oh and kiss K-Rod goodbye next year too.

You obviously know more about them than I do, but even if Teixeira is a rental, wouldn't it make sense to do it this year? The Yanks might not make the playoffs, the Red Sox have their problems, the ChiSox/Twins probably aren't a threat and the Rays are too young. I'd say make the power move now to try to ensure you crush through the AL. Yeah, they could be messing with chemistry, but I would build up as strong as I could. They have gotten the better of Boston this year so far, but I'd toss that right out the window come October. I'd want to head to Fenway with as many loaded guns as I could.

Plus, K-Rod was gone next year anyway...no doubt. I'd say roll the dice this year and stack it up. And you never know....nothing is leaning towards Teixiera being and one-and-done. I'd think a WS ring or appearance might give him a little incentive to sign his paychecks in LA.

I feel that the way they were playing prior to the trade they were going to roll through the AL. Their pitching (starting and relief) has been lights out all year and the offense was bound to come around, which it has since the break without Teixeira. Kotchman has gold glove potential and had been the only consistancy in the lineup year to date. So I felt that there was no need to rent a star. Wait until the year played out (with a good chance to win it all) and if they fell short then go after Teixeira in FA.

This year was the time to do it. K-Rod will probably be gone next year, as well as garrett anderson and possibly vlad in a year or 2. The angels have a real good shot to win it all this year, but they needed another bat. They werent going to be able to get through the post season hoping to win 1-0 or 2-1 all the time. This season was the time to go for it all given the future FA departures.

I disagree, unless of course they sign Teixeira at the end of the season. If they do..good move. If they don't next year looks like this. Vlad, one year older. GA, maybe retired. Kotchman, (their one consistent offensive player year to date) gone. K-Rod, gone but I like what I seen from Arredondo so far this season as heir apparent.

Unless you haven't noticed the 1-0 and 2-1 games are behind them and Teixeira has nothing to do with that. But small ball has been their MO for a long time now but now the bats are heating up. I still don't like it right now. But once again they sign Teixiera long term at the end of the year, then and only then will I consider it a success.

Didn't need him this year to win it all.

It's been awhile since they've won a game by that score but tonight I'll take it baby!!

I'm not nearly as sold on Kotchman as you are. I think he projects to be "good" at best, but never a star player the way Teixeira already is. And once the playoffs start, I'd much rather have a stud hitter in the line-up than just a good one.

The Angels have had the pitching to win the World Series for at least 5 years now but have consistantly failed to field an offense worthy of it. I'm glad they finally did something bold to step things up. Our offense has already spent most of this season on life support.

The Angels should easily be the front-runners to sign Teixeira after the season. They'll have the money and the roster spot ready for him, not to mention he'll have some history with the team and area. There's an article in the LA Times today about Torii Hunter pitching the Angels organization to Teixeira as an ideal place to play. I credit Hunter with a lot of the success of this year's team because he's clearly the best leader/unofficial team captain I can remember the team having.

Tony Reagins (the Angels new GM) has REALLY put a stamp on the team since he took over last winter. He gave Torii Hunter $90M one year after the team stupidly gave $50M to Gary Matthews Jr., and he traded Casey Kotchman (who the Angels have been hyping since they drafted him 7 years ago) for a maybe-rental star. Even if we lose Teix, I'm confident he'll be able to come up with something to help the team. And I'm also skeptical that Arte Moreno will let both K-Rod and Teixeira walk when he's trying to get an Angels TV network off the ground.

I should also mention that Reagins' first move was to trade Orlando Cabrera for Jon Garland. Cabrera was another of the team's many poor investments during the Bill Stoneman era and not only has Garland done well, but no one is missing Cabrera when Eric Aybar is on the field.

Here's the LA Times article about Torii Hunter already pitching the Angels to Teixeira:
Link


I know it may not mean anything by the end of the year, but I'm glad the Angels have a player that outspoken in favor of the team and region. The Angels offer a great climate, a full stadium to play in, big contracts, and fans that will probably never boo you no matter what you do. I can't think of any teams that can top that.