As ESPN has reported 250 times in the last two hours, the Braves traded Mark Teixeira to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and pitching "prospect" Stephen Marek.
What I'm wondering is this: what's it like to be Casey Kotchman right now? You are the starting first baseman on the best team in baseball. The playoffs are a foregone conclusion. The only question is how far.
Now you are going to a team that is on the downswing after a long long climb. The Braves, in one weekend, lost their three best players (Chipper, Hudson and Teixeira). The best hitter on the team is Brian McCann. And then who? Kelly Johnson? Jeff Francoeur? The best pitcher? Jair Jurrjens?
And the Braves are not clicking on all cylinders in the minors, at least on the hitting side, so no help is on the way. The Braves appear to have a strong set of pitchers in the minors, but Stephen Marek wouldn't seem to add much. He was not rated as one of the Top 11 prospects in the Angels' system by Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein.
In 2007, BP's book said: "He consistently delivers heat in the low-90s (topping out at 95), and supplements it with a nice curve and change, though his delivery needs work. He has work to do--he won`t be able to overpower people as easily in Double-A--but he`s among the organization`s best pitching prospects."
Wow, that's not bad. Problem is, he didn't make BP's 2008 book at all, after a lackluster performance in high A ball. The BP Web site predicts him as having a 10% chance of being a regular in the rotation in 2008, decreasing thereafter. In other words, he was expected to peak this year as a fringe starter.
Now he's already 24 years old in double A. So far he has been a game finisher for Arkansas, having started no games. Why did I call him a finisher instead of a closer? He has finished 20 games, but that's with only 3 saves. He's had 14 other relief appearances. Granted, in that role he is striking out more than a batter an inning, which is nice. Still, adding a closer to the Braves AA system isn't much of a boost, is it? Or do they think they can work some magic and make him a starter?
Kotchman goes from a real contender for the world title, to a team that is several years away from contending for a playoff spot.
Kotchman said this: "I'm not shocked. I'm overflowing with joy and thankful of the opportunity to go to Atlanta and play for Bobby Cox. I've heard a lot of great things about him."
I believe the part about playing for Bobby Cox. I don't believe for a second he is overflowing with joy.
