The Mets are close to finalizing a trade with the Atlanta Braves for third baseman Juan Uribe and lefty Kelly Johnson, per ESPN. Joel Sherman of the New York Post quickly confirmed Uribe’s involvement, adding that the Mets were set to send young pitching back to Atlanta.
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Uribe, 36, was traded to the Braves earlier this season and has slashed.285/.353/.464 in 167 plate appearances since the trade. Uribe is hitting.272/.331/.409 overall this season with 20 walks and 46 strikeouts.
Uribe can play third base for the team and also has experience at second base, while Johnson can play first base and both outfield positions. He would help their depth.
Uribe figures to be the Mets’ new starting third baseman until David Wright possibly comes back from the disabled list. 275 in 62 games with the Braves this season, hitting nine home runs and 34 RBI. The Mets bolster their decrepit lineup a bit with the pair, and managed to keep the most hallowed reaches of their prospect bounty untouched.
In 1,219 career games with the Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, Johnson has hit 140 home runs and driven in 503.
Time will tell if the Mets have done enough or intend to do more to give themselves a fighting chance in the NL East and Wild Card race, but at least they’ve done something. However, he failed to make the All-Star team. Multiple reports have them giving up Gant & Whalen.
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The Mets acquired him in the 21st round of the 2011 draft. He made the big league club out of camp and then earned regular playing time while hitting. In doing so, he also made a little bit of history, becoming the 1,000th player to appear for the Mets. 854 OPS overall. Those are very strong numbers over a two-month period, and they confirm why he’s now considered among Baseball America’s top 20 MLB prospects. Whalen owns a 16-9 record with a 2.43 ERA over his four seasons in the Minors. Whalen is the real deal and has the ability to be a No. 3 pitcher in a teams staff.
