The Braves and Mets have finalized a trade that sends Atlanta infielders Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson to New York for minor league pitchers John Gant and Rob Whalen.
We've acquired Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe for minor league pitchers John Gant and Rob Whalen. #Mets pic.twitter.com/JWFi8YwBEq
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 25, 2015The Mets also received cash from the Braves to cover part of the approximately $3 million remaining on Uribe and Johnson's contracts this season.
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The teams announced the swap after the Braves' game in St. Louis ended Friday night. Uribe had been scratched from the lineup hours earlier in anticipation of the move. Johnson did not play.
The Mets are still without third baseman David Wright (spinal stenosis), so Uribe could be crucial to their success in the second half. The 36-year-old Uribe has hit .285/.353/.464 since coming to Atlanta from the Dodgers in May. His addition likely will force another shuffling of the Mets' infield, with fill-in third baseman Daniel Murphy possibly heading to second base and current second baseman Wilmer Flores moving back to shortstop.
Johnson, 33, has also been productive for the Braves this year, hitting .275/.321/.451 with nine homers and 34 RBIs in just 182 at-bats this year. He is a left-handed hitter who will provide versatility in the infield and outfield.
Gant is a 22-year-old right-hander with a 6-5 record and a 3.52 ERA in 17 games (all starts) between Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton. He has pitched 99 2/3 innings, with a 91:36 K:BB ratio and a 1.30 WHIP. Whalen is a 21-year-old right-hander pitching at St Lucie. He has a 4-5 record with a 3.36 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He has pitched 83 innings with a 61:34 K:BB ratio and a 1.28 WHIP.
To make room on the 25-man roster for Uribe and Johnson, the Mets designated outfielder/first baseman John Mayberry Jr. for assignment and optioned infielder Danny Muno to Triple-A Las Vegas. Mayberry struck out as a pinch hitter Friday night. He finished his Mets tenure with a .164/.227/.318 slash line in 119 plate appearances.
Wright was moved to the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot for one of the players on the Mets' 40-man roster.
Sporting News Media's Tom Gatto contributed to this report, which has been updated.