House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves Top 5 worst trades of all-time (deadline or otherwise)

By Josh Mathews

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 4: General manager Alex Anthopoulos of the Toronto Blue Jays talks to media before MLB game action against the New York Yankees on April 4, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 4: General manager Alex Anthopoulos of the Toronto Blue Jays talks to media before MLB game action against the New York Yankees on April 4, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 9: First baseman Mark  Teixeira #23 of the Texas Rangers runs to first during the game against the Anaheim Angels at the Ballpark in Arlington on April 9, 2004 in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won 12-4. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. July 29, 2008

The Atlanta Braves traded Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Received Stephen Marek (minors) and Casey Kotchman.

What we got: 

Kotchman’s prospect light shined the most brightly after his 2003 and 2004 minor league seasons where he hit .360 over 546 at-bats from Single-A to Triple-A ball. He never produced like that for the Angels, and when we acquired him, it seemed like a classic change-of-pace move for the lefty.

The only thing that Kotchman had in common with Tex is that we acquired both at the trade deadline, and traded them a year later. Over 130 games, he hit just .266 with eight homers.

He just wasn’t good.

Stephen Marek had an awful 2009 in the minor leagues between Gwinnett and Mississippi with a mean 7.28 ERA.

He was much better in 2010, but basically just clogged up a spot on our 40-man for two years. He never found his way to the majors.

What we gave up: 

The man that in the equivalent of a full season for the Atlanta Braves, hit 37 home runs and drove in 134 runs while batting .295. I know, we weren’t going to spend on him long-term. The Yankees did sign Tex to an 8-year, $180 million contract in 2009.

Analysis: 

In the whole Tex ordeal, we basically ended up trading Beau Jones, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mark Teixeira for a career minor leaguer and a full season of Casey Kotchman. Let that one sink in.

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