ATLANTA, July 31 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Braves obtained outfielder Rick Ankiel, reliever Kyle Farnsworth and cash from the Kansas City Royals at Saturday's trade deadline.
In return, the Braves sent reliever Jesse Chavez, outfielder Gregor Blanco and minor league pitcher Tim Collins to Kansas City.
Ankiel was the key piece of the trade. The one-time pitcher has appeared in just 27 games this year after dealing with a right quad strain. He is hitting .261 with four homers and 15 RBI after coming to Kansas City from the Cardinals.
Farnsworth, 34, has had a good year in the Royals' bullpen, racking up a 2.42 ERA over 44 2/3 innings in 37 appearances. He previously played for the Braves in 2005, collecting 10 saves in 26 appearances for Atlanta then.
Chavez has a 3-2 record in 28 games out of the bullpen for Atlanta this year, while Blanco, 26, has logged 58 at-bats over 36 games off the bench.
