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Trade Rumors - Octavio Dotel to the Atlanta Braves, Al Reyes to the Seattle Mariners?

By faketeams

Update [2007-7-30 18:48:51 by Eric Hz]: Reports have Braves' starter Kyle Davies going to Kansas City for Octavio Dotel. I have some concern about a starting pitcher who was unsuccessful in the NL going to baseball's toughest division. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the Mariners' did offer Balentin for Dotel. Ouch.

Octavio Dotel looks like he is going to be dealt.  I know if I were a Royals fan, I'd like to see AAA slugger Wladimir Balentin coming to Kansas City, but recent news does not mention Seattle as a likely landing place.

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal:

In addition to reaching a preliminary agreement for Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira, the Braves are close to a deal for Royals closer Octavio Dotel, according to major-league sources.  The Braves, Indians and Dodgers are the three finalists for Dotel, sources say.

If the Indians wouldn't part with outfielders Franklyn Gutierrez or Ben Francisco, I do not see how they get Dotel.  Rumors had the Dodgers refusing to part with 2B Tony Abreu and that seems on par with the Indians refusal.  Have the Braves offered Kelly Johnson?

If the Mariners lose out on Dotel, then the activity surrounding the Devil Rays' current closer Al Reyes will become more important.  Both teams' local papers mention the other team.

St Petersburg Times

The Mariners seem most interested (with two scouts at the Trop) and have young catching. The Mets are among other teams following Reyes. If they don't have what the Rays are looking for, a three-way deal is a possibility.

Seattle Times

The Mariners have been monitoring the Devil Rays with two scouts this weekend, including Norm Charlton, their former closer who is doing special-assignment scouting for general manager Bill Bavasi.

Finally, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports (a day late?) on the Balentin possibility.

The Mariners are making a strong push at Kansas City with the hope of prying loose reliever Octavio Dotel in the next day or so, two baseball sources said.  But with Adam Jones and Jeff Clement thought to be untouchable, the Mariners probably would trade Balentien in the right deal to acquire Dotel.

I guess it is possible the Mariners part with C Jeff Clement for Reyes considering Balentin's status and the fact that Mariners' GM Bill Bavasi is not afraid to deal well-regarded prospects for veterans i.e. Jose Vidro.  Maybe the second-year to the contract Reyes inkied this past winter is too much to resist.

Update [2007-7-30 16:54:49 by Eric Hz]: From Buster Olney's ESPN blog:

Earlier on Monday, the Dodgers were told that they fell short in their attempt to trade for Kansas City reliever Octavio Dotel.

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