Uribe with the Braves
Jun 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Juan Uribe (2) hits a home run against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Nationals defeated the Braves 6-1. REUTERS/Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets are serious in making a run at the MLB postseason, acquiring veterans Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from the Atlanta Braves days before the league’s non-waiver traded deadline.

"I feel very good because I got traded to another team that is a contender,'' Third baseman Uribe said to ESPN.com after the trade. "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."

Both in the East Division of the National League, the Mets have a win-loss record of 49-48 while the Braves have 45-51. Overall in the NL, the Mets are in seventh place in the league.

The 36-year-old Uribe, who is a 14-year veteran from the Dominican Republic, has played in 46 games for the Braves in the current season with .281 batting average, 17 RBIs and 7 home runs in 151 at-bats. Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Johnson, a nine-year veteran out of Texas, is hitting .275 this season in Uribe is on the final year of his contract that will pay him USD 6.5 million (or AUD 8.92M) this year while Johnson earns USD 1.5M (or AUD 2.1M) for the year.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzales said the team would miss both Uribe and Johnson not only for their contribution on the field but also for their professionalism. In the deal with the Mets, Atlanta received pitching prospects 22-year-old John Gant and 21-year-old Rob Whalen. Uribe’s acquisition by the Mets is expected to shake-up the team’s rotation that includes players like Daniel Murphy, Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada in the in-field.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author of the article.

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