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DALLAS -- After flopping as Atlanta's closer and losing his job less than two months into the season, Dan Kolb was traded by the Braves back to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for right-hander Wes Obermueller.

	Obermueller

	Kolb

Kolb, a 30-year-old right-hander, was 3-8 with a 5.93 ERA last season, his first with the Braves. Atlanta acquired him from the Brewers at last year's winter meetings for Jose Capellan and Alex Zumwalt.

He was an All-Star for the Brewers in 2004, when he had 39 saves, and the Braves acquired him to move John Smoltz back into the starting rotation. But by mid-May, he had four losses and three blown saves, allowing 18 hits and 16 walks -- one more than his 2004 total -- in 16 2/3 innings.

"Working with Mike Maddux, Dan had great success for us in the past and he adds to the depth of our relief," Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said, referring to the team's pitching coach. "We think that he has great potential to return to his form of 2004 and make a significant contribution to our staff."

During his second stint in Milwaukee, Kolb will be a setup man for Derrick Turnbow, who had 39 saves in 43 chances last season.

The 28-year-old Obermueller went 1-4 with a 5.26 ERA in eight starts and 15 relief appearances for Milwaukee this year after going 6-8 in 20 starts and five relief appearances the previous season.

Earlier Wednesday, the Braves traded All-Star catcher Johnny Estrada to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-handed relievers Lance Cormier and Oscar Villarreal.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press