Anaheim, CA (Best E Casino) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim acquired first baseman Mark Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves for first baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Stephen Marek on Tuesday.

The switch-hitting 28-year-old Teixeira is batting .283 with 78 runs batted in and 20 home runs in 103 games with Atlanta.

LA, which has an 11 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West and a major league-best record of 65-40 heading into Tuesday's game in Boston, bulks up a lineup that includes Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Garret Anderson.

Both Guerrero and Teixeira's contracts expire this year.

The 25-year-old Kotchman, whose contract also expires this year, is batting .287 with 12 homers and was tied with Guerrero and Hunter for a team-high 54 RBI in 100 games played for LA.

Marek, a 24-year-old right hander, has never played in a major league game.