MARK KOTSAY TRADE: CAN'TSAY WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, MARK

CAN'TSAY WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, MARK

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/14/sports/s145542S74.DTL

The deal to pay the Atlanta Braves to take Mark Kotsay off the A's hands has been completed. A throw-in of Jamie Richmond was included.

The A's are going to pay the Braves more than $5 Million to rid themselves of Kotsay. Kotsay came to the A's in 2004 from the San Diego Padres. The deal was hung up for a week over MRI results and 2nd and 3rd medical opinions on Kotsay. Following the 2005 season the A's signed Kotsay to a 3-year deal despite his injury issues. Kotsay hit a pedestrian .267/.321/.388 and while still showed an accurate arm clearly was hindered by shoulder, back and hamstring injuries.

The A's get Joey Devine - a closer that could become Huston Street's set-up man or set-up Street to be traded later this season. Devine has terrific K rates but does fall apart at times with his control.

Jamie Richmond will most likely round out the Midland rotation. Richmond does not project to make the big league roster. He does not have very good K rates, does not have a good flyball/groundball ratio. However, he has been shown to be effective. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the Texas League.