The real reason for this trade was so that the Royals could use rookie Joakim Soria as the closer because Kyle Davies is a bad starting pitcher.  Davies started 17 games this season for the Braves and he was 4-8 with a 5.76 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP!  In 86 innings this year he has allowed 92 hits, walked 44 batters and whiffed 59.  His career numbers are awful so it looks to me like GM Drayton Moore was doing his old team a favor by making this trade.  Davies has pitched in 52 major league games over his career (45 starts) and he was 14-21 with a 6.15 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.  In 237 innings for the Braves Davies allowed 280 hits, walked 126 batters and whiffed 172.  Chances are that the Royals will let him try to work out his issues in AAA before he gets called up.

Octavio Dotel pitched in 24 games for the Royals this season and he was 2-1 with 11 saves, a 3.91 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.  In 23 innings this season he allowed 24 hits, walked 11 batters and whiffed 29.  Despite the fact that Dotel has looked good this season the Royals wanted to give the closer’s role back to Joakim Soria.  Soria has pitched in 40 games this season for the Royals and he is 1-3 with 10 saves, a 2.44 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.  Soria has worked 44.1 innings and he has allowed 31 hits, walked 15 batters and whiffed 51.  Look for him to continue doing a good job for the Royals

The Royals have finally released starting pitcher Scott Elarton and he fully deserved it based on the way he has pitched this season.  Elarton started 9 games this season for the Royals and he was 2-4 with a 10.46 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP.  In 37 innings this season Elarton allowed a whopping 53 hits, 12 homers, walked 21 batters and only whiffed 13.  Elarton will be replaced in the rotation by either John Thomson or Leo Nunez.

The Royals have waived lefty Sean Thompson who they recently claimed from the Padres.  They tried to convert him into a reliever in AAA ball and he pitched in 3 games and threw 1 inning in which he allowed 2 hits and walked 2 batters.  The Royals will likey not regret letting Thompson go.

The Royals have activated Reggie Sanders off of the 15-day disabled list.  Sanders has played in 18 games this season for the Royals and he is 20 for 53 (.377 avg, 1.073 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 8 RBIs.  The Royals are likely going to showcase Reggie Sanders for contending ballclubs with the trade deadline fast approaching in a couple of weeks.  The Royals have sent Joey Gathright to AAA ball despite the fact that he has played very well for them this season.  Gathright has played in 25 games this season for the Royals and he is 23 for 73 (.315 avg, .760 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 9 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  Gathright will likely return to the Royals and the starting lineup if they can move either Reggie Sanders/Emil Brown in the next couple of weeks.

The Royals have placed John Thomson on the 15-day disabled list with lower back spasms.  Thomson has started 2 games this season for the Royals and he is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.  In 10.2 innings he has allowed 13 hits, walked 3 batters and whiffed 3 batters.