The New York Mets addressed their need for infield help Friday by securing a pair of veteran rental players.
The Mets acquired third baseman Juan Uribe and second baseman Kelly Johnson from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitching prospects John Gant, Rob Whalen, and cash considerations. The clubs confirmed the deal after Friday's games.
Both veterans add much-needed depth to a depleted Mets lineup currently without Michael Cuddyer and David Wright because of injuries. The Mets have been desperate to add firepower to an offense that ranks last in the majors in OPS (.654) and second-to-last in runs scored (318).
| 2015 | BB% | K% | OPS | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Uribe | 7.9% | 18.1% | .772 | 113 |
| Kelly Johnson | 6.6% | 21.8% | .740 | 107 |
| Mets Offense | 7.3% | 21.1% | .654 | 85 |
| MLB Average | 7.5% | 20.2% | .711 | 96 |
Uribe, 36, has thrived since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in May, batting .285/.353/.464 with seven homers and six doubles in 45 games.
The slick-fielding defender, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, has been particularly successful hitting opposite-sided pitchers this season, with a .958 OPS against lefties over 58 plate appearances. As a team, the Mets are batting just .216/.283/.357 with a 24.1 strikeout percentage versus southpaws.
Johnson, 33, gives Mets manager Terry Collins added lineup flexibility with his experience at first, second, and third base, as well as in the outfield. He's batting .275/.321/.451 with nine homers in 62 games. Johnson, also an impending free agent, and Uribe have roughly $3 million remaining on their contracts this season.
| Career Stats | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Johnson | .251 | .332 | .424 | .332 | 17.9 |
| Juan Uribe | .257 | .303 | .421 | .313 | 23.9 |
Neither Whalen nor Gant were among the Mets' top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America.
Whalen, 21, pitched to a 3.36 ERA across 14 starts this season with High-A St. Lucie, crafting a 6.6 strikeout-per-nine ratio over 83 innings. Scouts say the 6-foot-2 right-hander possesses a mid-90s fastball with a solid secondary breaking pitch.
Gant, meanwhile, has appeared at two levels of the Mets' minor-league system this year, but struggled in 11 starts at Double-A. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed 31 earned runs in 59 1/3 innings (4.70 ERA) with a 1.57 WHIP for Binghamton.