KOTSAY HEADS TO BRAVES
The Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics for pitchers Joey Devine and Jamie Richmond.
What does it give the Atlanta Braves
The Braves had an opening in center field since letting Andruw Jones go, so adding Kotsay from Oakland makes sense. Kotsay may not be in Jones' class defensively, he's not a major drop-off. In fact, he's among the 10 best defensive center-fielders in his own right. However, Kotsay won't bring a major stick to the lineup. Instead, he'll probably be a leadoff or second-place hitter for the Braves.
What does it give the Oakland Athletics
Devine is viewed as a future closer, which has already led to speculation about Huston Street's immediate future with the rebuilding A's. If Street is dealt, Devine could find his way into a setup role this season. Otherwise, he will likely continue to groom for an eventual closer role in Oakland at the Triple-A level--at least to start the 2008 campaign.
Fantasy impact
