SORIANO TO TAMPA
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired pitcher Rafael Soriano from the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Jesse Chavez.
What does it give the Tampa Bay Rays
In Soriano, the Rays add a legitimate ninth-inning pitcher that the club has been lacking since veteran Troy Percival's strong showing in 2008. Last year, the Rays failed to repeat as AL champions largely due to their lack of a true closer. Soriano should be a key performer in 2010. Chavez had been acquired from Pittsburgh in the Akinori Iwamura deal earlier in the off-season.
What does it give the Atlanta Braves
The Braves signed Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito as free agents recently, making Soriano expendable. The team decided to offer salary arbitration to Soriano anyway, and he accepted. Therefore, Atlanta had no choice but to move him to the highest bidder. Chavez will likely pitch in middle relief and is seen as a good arm with potential.
Fantasy impact
