Mark Kotsay appears headed for Atlanta to fill Andruw Jones’ spot in center field. The Braves reached a tentative deal Saturday to acquire the oft-injured Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics for reliever Joey Devine and cash, according to several media reports. The trade is contingent on Kotsay passing a physical and the commissioner’s office approving the money involved in the deal.
Kotsay, who was hampered by back problems last season, hit .214 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 56 games last year. He is a career .282 hitter in 11 seasons in the majors.
He had surgery last spring in which a portion of a herniated disk was removed from his lower back. He missed the first two months of the season and returned to the disabled list with back spasms in August.
The 32-year-old Kotsay could be a temporary bridge between Jones and the team’s future in center field, Jordan Schafer, who may be at least a year from the major leagues. Kotsay will be a free agent after the 2008 season.
Devine has bounced between Atlanta and the minors the last three years. The 24-year-old struggled with control early in his career but posted a 1.08 ERA in 10 games with Atlanta last season and had 20 saves in the minors.
Oakland signed free agent outfielder Emil Brown to a one-year contract Friday.
Tags: mark kotsay