The potent bat and gold glove of Mark Teixeira serves to make the Angels the odds-on favorites in the American League.

AP / John Bazemore

BOSTON — Terry Francona was sitting in his office shortly after 5:30 when bench coach Brad Mills walked in, brandishing a revised lineup card from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

“(Casey) Kotchman was scratched,” said Mills. “They just traded him for (Mark) Teixeira.”

“I guess,” Francona cracked with a smile, “this means we’re not getting him then.”

The Sox hadn’t been major players for Teixeira to begin with. Their only conversation with the Atlanta Braves came several weeks ago when the Braves asked for Kevin Youkilis and Craig Hansen. End of discussion.

The only scenario under which the Sox might have reentered the picture for Teixeira would have been had they found a taker for Manny Ramirez. The Sox could have then packaged some prospects for Teixeira, who would have served as Ramirez’s replacement for the remainder of 2008.

Teixeira, who is eligible for free agency, wasn’t a good long-term fit for the Sox since it would have given them two standout first basemen. Short-term, Youkilis could have been moved to left. Now, the point’s moot.

After tonight, the Red Sox won’t face the Angels again during the regular season, which isn’t a bad thing for the Sox. Following the Angels’ 6-2 win last night, the Angels are leading the season series, 7-1. The Angels have won the last seven meetings and can register another sweep of the Sox with a victory tonight.

The Sox already had their hands full with the Angels before the acquisition of Teixeira. Now that the switch-hitting Gold Glove-winner has been added to the lineup, the best team in the American League just got better.

“We’re not expecting Mark to be a savior,” emphasized Angels general manager Tony Reagins. “We’re just expecting him to be a good fit, just play his type of baseball. We’re looking forward to him doing what he does and being part of our team.”

For years, the Angels seemed to be one big bat short. They were said to be bidders for, at various times, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada and Miguel Cabrera and, last year at this time, Teixeira himself.

Each time, they stood pat. Yesterday, they got bold. Teixeira provides Vladimir Guerrero with another impact bat, someone who changes the look of the lineup. The Angels already had a batting order full of good hitters, but Teixeira is a legitimate difference-maker.

“I’ll say this,” said Teixeira in a conference call with reporters. “The Angels have always been one of the best teams in the American League. … I just want to hopefully get them over the top. I’m not going to make any predictions or say we’re the team to beat.”

But it sure seems like they are.

Last October, when the Red Sox rolled them in a three-game sweep in the American League Championship Series, the Angels scored a grand total of four runs and collected just 18 hits in the series. They did not hit a home run and had just six extra-base hits over the course of three games.

It should be remembered that Garret Anderson battled conjunctivitis, Gary Matthews Jr. was out with a knee injury and neither Kotchman nor Guerrero was completely healthy.

Still, the Angels looked overmatched. It might have been more of the same this fall had the Angels not landed Teixeira. Torii Hunter and Anderson are formidable, professional hitters, but they don’t force the opposition’s hand the way Guerrero and Teixeira do.

The Angels’ style of play won’t change. They will still put pressure on the defense, take the extra base and play with an aggressiveness unmatched among American League teams. Now, however, they have another game-breaker to open up games.

That’s significant in October when, by definition, you’re facing the best pitching the league has to offer. The Angels already had a deep rotation and a sturdy bullpen. Now, they’ve got a lineup to match.

The Angels have aimed high.

“Hopefully,” said Reagins, “we’re playing deep into October. We’re in it to win a world championship. I think this (trade) speaks volumes about that.”

Josh Beckett was asked before last night’s game whether he thought the acquisition of Teixeira made the Angels the team to beat.

“We’ve got World Series rings that say ‘2007’, ” said Beckett. “That’s my take.”

True, but those rings have an expiration date.

smcadam@projo.com