Braves Send Disappointing Kolb Back To Milwaukee

By Aaron Fitt
December 8, 2005

As if it wasn't clear already, the Braves admitted the Dan Kolb trade didn't work out.

Just a year after trading flamethrowing righthander Jose Capellan to get him, the Braves dealt Kolb back to the Brewers for righthander Wes Obermueller.

Kolb, 30, made the National League all-star team in 2004, when he posted 39 saves and a 2.98 ERA for the Brewers. The Braves traded for him during last year's Winter Meetings to take over as their closer with John Smoltz going back to the rotation.

It was a failure almost from the start, as Kolb lost the closer job by May and blew seven of 18 save opportunities. Overall, he posted a 5.93 ERA in 59 innings and was left off the Braves' postseason roster.

Even at his best with the Brewers, there was reason to doubt whether Kolb had the stuff to stick as a legitimate closer--he struck out just 21 batters in 57 innings in 2004.

Obermueller, who turns 29 this month, went 1-4, 5.26 with 33 strikeouts and 36 walks in 65 innings last year. He came to the Brewers in a 2003 deadline deal that sent Curtis Leskanic to the Royals. In two and a half season in the Brewers organization, Obermueller made 62 big league appearances and 41 starts, with a career 5.65 ERA. He figures to compete for a bullpen job for the Braves in 2006.