The Braves have signed 37-year old righty starter/reliever Elmer Dessens to a contract for the remainder of the season. Dessens was pitching in Mexico this season. He has pitched in 20 games (19 starts) for Mexico City and he was 10-2 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Dessens has now pitched in 356 games (140 starts) in his major league career and he is 48-61 with 5 saves, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Braves will likely use Dessens out of the bullpen to finish the season but he could start if they need him to.

The Braves continue to move veterans as they have traded 32-year old outfielder Mark Kotsay to the Red Sox for 20-year old outfielder Luis Sumoza. Kotsay was having a solid season for the Braves in 2008 as he played in 88 games for them this season and he was 92 for 318 (.289 avg, .758 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 6 homers and 37 RBIs. The Braves will likely go with some of the kids in the outfield the rest of the season. Sumoza is a righty swinger who has been playing well in the short season rookie league for the Red Sox. Sumoza has played in 51 games in the minors this season and he is 58 for 193 (.301 avg, .915 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 11 homers, 38 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. The Braves were smart to make this move as Kotsay wasn’t going to help the Braves make the playoffs this season and they got a decent prospect for him.

The Atlanta Braves have signed 32-year old righty starting pitcher Rodrigo Lopez to a minor league contract with a team option for the 2009 season. Lopez started 14 games last season for the Rockies last season and he was 5-4 with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. His 2007 season was cut short due to Tommy John Surgery which he is still recovering from right now. Lopez has pitched in 181 games (167 starts) in his major league career and he is 65-65 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. This was a nice low risk/high reward signing for the Braves as Lopez is a decent starting pitcher.

I don’t know if it’s hurt feelings or if Kotchman just hasn’t adjusted to National League pitching but he’s played horrible for the Braves since coming over from the Angels. Kotchman has played in 19 games for the Braves and he is 10 for 67 (.149 avg, .456 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 5 RBIs. The Braves are hoping that Kotchman gets his bat going as Mark Teixeira has been incredible for the Angels since the trade. To secure his spot in the Braves’ future Kotchman will have to start hitting soon.

The Braves have placed reserve infielder Ruben Gotay on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Gotay has played in 73 games this season for the Braves and he is 20 for 89 (.225 avg, .647 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 2 homers and 6 RBIs. The Braves have recalled lefty starting pitcher Jo Jo Reyes to take over for Tom Glavine in the starting rotation. Reyes has pitched in 16 games (15 starts) for the Braves this season and he is 3-9 with a 5.33 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.

The Atlanta Braves have placed lefty starting pitcher Tom Glavine on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left elbow. Glavine has started 13 games for the Braves this season and he is 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. This injury could cause Glavine to miss the remainder of the season and that would be a shame. But, Glavine will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame five years after he hangs up the cleats because he has had a fantastic major league career. Glavine has started 682 games in his major league career and he is 305-203 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Glavine has also won 20 or more games in a season a stunning 5 times in his career. The Braves have recalled 27-year old righty Matt DeSalvo to replace Glavine on the pitching staff. DeSalvo has pitched in 32 games (7 starts) in AAA ball this season and he is 2-11 with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. DeSalvo has also pitched in 7 games (6 starts) in his major league career and he is 1-3 with a 6.18 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. Don’t expect much out of DeSalvo.

31-year old lefty reliever Will Ohman has done a really good job for the Braves this season. They were smart not to move him at the trade deadline but that doesn’t mean he won’t change teams before Aug 31st. The Braves should keep him unless some team gets really desperate and overpays for him. Ohman has pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Braves this season and he is 3-0 with 1 save, a 2.63 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He has been the most consistent reliever over the course of the whole season for the Braves this season.

Tim Hudson had Tommy John Surgery yesterday. Hudson hopes to return by August of 2009 but that will depend on his rehab. Hudson pitched in 23 games (22 starts) for the Braves this season and he was 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. The Braves will really miss Hudson both this year and next.

The Braves have placed righty reliever Rafael Soriano on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. Soriano has pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Braves this season and he is 0-1 with 3 saves, a 2.57 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Braves should just shut Soriano down for the season before he really hurts himself badly. The Braves have recalled lefty starter/reliever Francisley Bueno to replace Soriano on the pitching staff. Bueno has pitched in 17 games (12 starts) this season in AAA ball and he is 2-5 with a 5.02 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Don’t expect much from him as the Braves don’t consider him much of a prospect.

The Braves have designated lefty reliever Royce Ring for assignment. He pitched in 42 games for the Mets this season and he was 2-1 with a 8.46 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. The Braves have recalled righty reliever Vladimir Nunez to replace Ring in the bullpen. Nunez has pitched in 3 games for the Braves this season and he is 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Braves might be able to trade Ring because he’s a lefty after all.