With the New York Mets in the thick of the National League playoff race, there is no question that they need help at the plate. After the San Francisco Giants' Chris Heston no-hit them in June, and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw took a perfect game into the seventh inning on Thursday, New York went out to get that help Friday from a familiar source.
The Mets finalized a deal Friday night to acquire Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from their rival Atlanta Braves for two minor league pitchers. It is the second time this season that Uribe has been traded, going from the Dodgers to the Braves in May.
The 36 year-old has played third base most of the season, hitting .272 with eight home runs and 23 driven in this season. He is earning $6.5 million in the final year of his contract.
The 33 year-old Johnson is hitting .275 with nine homers and 34 RBIs. The utility man has made appearances at first, second, third, and both corner outfield positions, and is earning $1.5 million this season.
The Mets also received cash from the Braves to cover the remaining $3.15 million owed to the players.
New York sent right-handed pitchers John Gant and Rob Whalen to Atlanta in the deal. The 22 year-old Gant is 6-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 17 starts in Class A and Double-A this season. Whalen is 4-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 15 appearances, including 14 starts, in Class A.
The Mets' offense has taken a pounding with injuries this season, including David Wright out at least another month with spinal stenosis, and Michael Cuddyer being placed on the disabled list on Friday with a bone bruise in his left kneecap.
New York entered Friday's game ranked last in the majors with a .233 team batting average and ahead of only the Chicago White Sox in runs scored.
With Uribe added to the infield, Daniel Murphy is expected to move back to second base and Wilmer Flores to shortstop, making Ruben Tejada a backup. To make room for the players, the Mets transferred Wright to the 60-day disabled list, designated John Mayberry Jr. for assignment, and optioned Danny Muno to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Uribe and Johnson give New York's struggling lineup some much needed pop, as they sit three games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East, and three and a half behind the Giants in the wild card race.
The Mets finalized a deal Friday night to acquire Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from their rival Atlanta Braves for two minor league pitchers. It is the second time this season that Uribe has been traded, going from the Dodgers to the Braves in May.
The 36 year-old has played third base most of the season, hitting .272 with eight home runs and 23 driven in this season. He is earning $6.5 million in the final year of his contract.
The 33 year-old Johnson is hitting .275 with nine homers and 34 RBIs. The utility man has made appearances at first, second, third, and both corner outfield positions, and is earning $1.5 million this season.
The Mets also received cash from the Braves to cover the remaining $3.15 million owed to the players.
New York sent right-handed pitchers John Gant and Rob Whalen to Atlanta in the deal. The 22 year-old Gant is 6-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 17 starts in Class A and Double-A this season. Whalen is 4-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 15 appearances, including 14 starts, in Class A.
The Mets' offense has taken a pounding with injuries this season, including David Wright out at least another month with spinal stenosis, and Michael Cuddyer being placed on the disabled list on Friday with a bone bruise in his left kneecap.
New York entered Friday's game ranked last in the majors with a .233 team batting average and ahead of only the Chicago White Sox in runs scored.
With Uribe added to the infield, Daniel Murphy is expected to move back to second base and Wilmer Flores to shortstop, making Ruben Tejada a backup. To make room for the players, the Mets transferred Wright to the 60-day disabled list, designated John Mayberry Jr. for assignment, and optioned Danny Muno to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Uribe and Johnson give New York's struggling lineup some much needed pop, as they sit three games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East, and three and a half behind the Giants in the wild card race.
