Tue, Jul 31, 2007 at 3:00pm

DOTEL HEADS TO ATLANTA

The Atlanta Braves acquired pitcher Octavio Dotel from the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Kyle Davies.

What does it give the Atlanta Braves
The Braves' bullpen has been pretty mediocre this year as they try to catch the Mets in the NL East, but Dotel should help them rise above. He gives them another hard-throwing right arm in the late innings, along with Ron Mahay, who was acquired earlier in the day, to finally make up for the early loss of Mike Gonzalez. If anything happens to closer Bob Wickman, Dotel can fill in serviceably, but if not he becomes their 1A setup man with Rafael Soriano.

What does it give the Kansas City Royals
With chunks of three big-league seasons already behind him at age 23, the Royals got what they needed here: a big-league-ready young starter. Of course, that experience in the majors has been spotty at best and he comes to Kansas City a week and a half after being demoted to the minors. But he'll have less pressure in K.C. and may well soon bust out into his potential as a solid guy in the mid-back of the rotation.

Fantasy impact

Player focus

Kansas City Royals

Kyle Davies P

Atlanta Braves

Octavio Dotel P