Juan Uribe is bringing some offense to the New York Mets….
The team finalized a deal with the Atlanta Braves on Friday night to acquire the 36-year-old Dominican baseball player, a two-time World Series champion.
Uribe, who has primarily played third base in recent seasons, is hitting a combined .272 with eight homers and 23 RBIs with the Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers this season.
Uribe is earning $6.5 million in the final year of his contract.
Along with Uribe and Kelly Johnson, the Braves are sending cash to the Mets to offset some of the remaining $3.15 million owed to the traded players.
“I feel very good because I got traded to another team that is a contender,” Uribe said through an interpreter. “I would have felt bad if I got released or sent home, so I know that I’m going to go to a good team and have the chance to be in the playoffs.”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was complimentary of Uribe’s quick adjustment to the clubhouse after an early-season trade from the Dodgers. Gonzalez mentioned how Johnson’s presence would accordingly be missed by Atlanta.
“You’re getting ready to lose two guys that are really pretty good guys on our club,” Gonzalez said. “Uribe’s only been here about two months, but he fit in right away with these guys, and you’re going to miss that and Kelly’s professionalism.”
New York has been looking to bolster its anemic offense, with third baseman David Wright at least a month away from returning from spinal stenosis and left fielder Michael Cuddyer now on the disabled list with a bone bruise below his left kneecap.