by Ken Rosenthal

Updated: July 29, 2008, 8:49 PM EST 400 comments

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First baseman Casey Kotchman and Class AA right-hander Stephen Marek are headed to Atlanta in exchange for the power-hitting first baseman in a headline-grabbing trade Tuesday that adds a new dimension to an already potent Angels squad.

"Hopefully I can just go over there and be one more piece of the puzzle," Teixeira said before the Braves hosted St. Louis.

The deal came two days before baseball's deadline for making trades without waivers. Teixeira — hitting .283 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs this season — was among the top names in the rumor mill, and should boost a club that wanted to add another big bat to back its potent pitching staff.

"We're pleased to bring Mark into the Angels family," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. "He is a tremendous player and we feel he will impact our club in a very positive way."

The Diamondbacks had emerged as an early front-runner for Teixeira, but the Angels maintained steady interest. They were willing to acquire Teixeira only if they did not break up the core of their roster, which has produced the best record in the majors.

At 65-40, the Angels have the best record in baseball, lead the AL West by 11 1/2 games and have now made a bold move in preparation for a World Series run.

Atlanta acquired Teixeira last July 31 at the trading deadline in a seven-player deal that sent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Texas. The Braves missed the playoffs, and this deal gives Teixeira his best chance to play in the postseason for the first time.

"They have the best team is baseball. I'm not going to go over there and make them any different, other than just hopefully add a few more runs. They have all the pitching they need, they have great defense," Teixeira said.

In trading Teixeira for Kotchman and Marek, the Braves will receive better value than the two premium draft picks they would have received if they simply lost Teixeira as a free agent.

Teixeira is making $12.5 million and will be eligible for free agency after the season. Atlanta general manager Frank Wren said the team was rebuffed in spring training when it offered Teixeira a deal that would have made him "one of the highest-paid players in the game."

There were no further contract discussions between Wren and Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras. With Atlanta plagued by injuries and fading in the NL East, Wren thought he had little choice but to get something of value before losing the 28-year-old Teixeira.

"We offered him a very aggressive, multiyear contract," Wren said. "When he didn't take that, we knew we wouldn't be able to re-sign him."

Teixeira said the negotiations with the Braves were nothing more than "one phone call."

"Then we moved on," he said. "I've always been a player who believes if I go out and do my job on the field, contracts will take care of themselves. That's my plan."

Kotchman, who is batting .287 this season with a career-high 12 homers, will be under the Braves' control for three more seasons.

"I'm just excited to go to Atlanta and play for (manager) Bobby Cox," Kotchman said before leaving Fenway Park — where the Angels are in the middle of a three-game series with the Red Sox — for the airport. "At the same time, my teammates here, to leave them, I'll be pulling for them. Other than that, there's really not a whole lot I can say."

Marek, 2-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 34 relief appearances as a reliever at Class AA Arkansas, eventually projects to be a member of the Braves' bullpen.

Beset by injuries, the Braves have struggled below .500 this year and fallen to the fringe of the NL East race.

"This is obviously not the way we wanted the season to end and go forward. We look at it as building for the future," Braves Wren said.

The Angels could attempt to keep Teixeira long-term, but those negotiations could be complicated by their need to reach a new deal with right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who will be a free agent after next season.

If the Angels lose Teixeira to free agency, they could simply replace him with Kendry Morales, who currently is at Class AAA. They then would receive two premium draft picks as compensation if they offered Teixeira salary arbitration.

Teixeira, a switch-hitter who plays Gold Glove-caliber defense, will provide a major boost to an Angels offense that has revived in July.

He has a lifetime batting average of .286 with 190 total home runs. His best season was in 2005 for the Rangers, when he established career highs in average (.301), home runs (43), RBIs (144), and hits (194) and was selected to his first All-Star team.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.