Report: Red Sox close to getting Kotsay from Braves
Sports Network | August 27, 2008
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox are reportedly close to a deal that will land outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that the Braves will continue their late-season purge by dealing away Kotsay, who was pulled from the starting lineup of Atlanta's game against Florida on Tuesday night, apparently to prevent any injury that could scuttle the deal. The paper said it is unclear what the Red Sox will give up in the trade, but it will likely not be more than a mid-level prospect. Atlanta already sent star first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a July 29 deal for first baseman Casey Kotchman. Just a day after sending outfielder J.D. Drew to the disabled list with a back strain, the Red Sox hope to bolster their outfield with another left-handed bat for the stretch run. The 32-year-old Kotsay is hitting .289 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 88 games with Atlanta this season. Kotsay, who missed five weeks this season with a bad back and missed much of 2007 with Oakland after back surgery, is a career .282 hitter over 12 seasons with the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Athletics, and Atlanta. Added in an offseason deal that sent relief pitcher Joey Devine to Oakland, Kotsay, who will be a free agent after this season, hit for the cycle in a 5-for-5 game against the Chicago Cubs on August 14. The Braves enter play Wednesday at 58-74, 15 games behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East. The Red Sox, conversely, begin Wednesday at 76-55, 3 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East, and 2 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota for the AL wild card.
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