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Moriarty9 · 10-19-2009, 02:25 PM

Rays, Braves do hot corner swap
Atkins, catching prospect dealt for Buscher
December 12, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Atlanta Braves swapped thirdbasemen today that locals hope will pay dividends in 2010.

The Devil Rays acquired Garret Atkins and minor league catcher Tony Mendez from the Braves for Brian Buscher.

Buscher hit .343 with three home runs and 28 RBI over 268 at bats last season with Tampa Bay while playing each infield position and even a couple innings in left field. He went just 2-for-10 in the playoffs with three strikeouts and was set to compete for the starting job this spring. Now he will do so with Omar Infante and others in Atlanta.

Atkins becomes the front-runner in the Devil Rays competition. He hit .268 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI in 154 games with the Braves and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last season.

Neither player makes much money, but Atkins is owed roughly $100,000 more in 2010 than Buscher.

Mendez, 23, is a strong defensive catcher from Chile. He went 1-for-6 with a two-run double for the Braves this season after hitting .298 with two home runs and 18 RBI in 191 at bats with a low-level Atlanta farm team. He was an 11th round draft pick by the Braves in 2008.

10-19-2009, 02:25 PM	#638 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Rays, Braves do hot corner swap Atkins, catching prospect dealt for Buscher December 12, 2009 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Atlanta Braves swapped thirdbasemen today that locals hope will pay dividends in 2010. The Devil Rays acquired Garret Atkins and minor league catcher Tony Mendez from the Braves for Brian Buscher. Buscher hit .343 with three home runs and 28 RBI over 268 at bats last season with Tampa Bay while playing each infield position and even a couple innings in left field. He went just 2-for-10 in the playoffs with three strikeouts and was set to compete for the starting job this spring. Now he will do so with Omar Infante and others in Atlanta. Atkins becomes the front-runner in the Devil Rays competition. He hit .268 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI in 154 games with the Braves and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last season. Neither player makes much money, but Atkins is owed roughly $100,000 more in 2010 than Buscher. Mendez, 23, is a strong defensive catcher from Chile. He went 1-for-6 with a two-run double for the Braves this season after hitting .298 with two home runs and 18 RBI in 191 at bats with a low-level Atlanta farm team. He was an 11th round draft pick by the Braves in 2008.