TURNER FIELD--Times being what they are for the Atlanta Braves, the trade to send Mark Teixeira seems to be a pretty good one. Most will view the trade as the Braves "waiving the white flag," and that is probably so, but still Casey Kotchman will be with this team for a few years and the Braves couldn't be happier.

The lefthander is a solid player who in his fifth year in the majors is hitting at a 274 clip. He also has been regarded as one of the top prospects in the Angels system for the past few years.

But are the Braves done making deals? Will Ohman is being shopped around, that we know. But we have also heard Mark Kotsay, Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur as possible Braves to hit the market. I would like to see the Braves keep Kotsay. When he is healthy, he is a solid centerfielder and a great lefthanded bat. Johnson is a good player, but the Braves have plenty waiting in the wings that could take over at second. That brings us to Francoeur. It's tough to watch Frenchy struggle at the plate the way he has this season. He looks so lost at time that it is affecting his play in the field as well. Sometimes, I think leaving this city would do him good. Let's face it, when he got the call-up in 2005 he was a sensation. And then two full years of 100 RBIs means he can play at this level. But those numbers, the fact he was a legend at Parkview High School, and the fact that he is a likeable kids with a great smile all addes up to tremedous pressure to perform in his hometown. And the fact the had to go to the minors to "find his swing" tells me there is no one in Atlanta that can help him out right now.