By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's game

The Braves finally got what they wanted Tuesday. After negotiations broke down late last month, the Reds traded veteran left-handed reliever Kent Mercker to Atlanta for a player to be named later.

Mercker, earning $550,000 this season, is the fifth Reds player traded since July 29.

Left-hander Mark Watson was promoted from Triple-A Louisville to fill his roster spot.

"We didn't set out to trade him," Reds assistant general manager Brad Kullman said. "(The Braves) were just relentless with their pursuit."

Atlanta, which entered Tuesday with a 12-game lead in the National League East, had been after Mercker since before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.

"It kind of amazes me that (the Braves) want me, to be honest," said Mercker, who played for Atlanta from 1989-95. "When I found out (about the trade), I got on the Internet just to see the standings. Wow. They're 12 games up in the division again. As a player, that's why you play. It's hopefully a big enough cushion that I can't screw it up."

The move, however, is a bittersweet one for Mercker, who was 0-2 with a 2.35 ERA and had held opponents to a .225 batting average in 49 relief appearances for the Reds.

"Do I wish I was here? Absolutely," the Dublin, Ohio, native said. "But at my age and in my job you never know when you get an opportunity to do something like this."

Mercker becomes a free agent after this season. Both sides expressed interest in a return to Cincinnati in 2004.

"If the Reds still have an interest in me, I'd love to play here," Mercker said. "I'd love to come back."