Trade Rumors: Juan Uribe To The Atlanta Braves??

Could the Atlanta Braves be on the verge of trading for third baseman Juan Uribe?  This trade would be the clear reasoning behind the benching of Alberto Callaspo on Monday night.

The deal was almost completed last night according to MLB’s Ken Rosenthal, but something slipped through the cracks.  This could be Callaspo saying no to the trade as he has the right to decline a trade prior to June 15.

Uribe has only started three of the Dodgers’ last fourteen games.  When reporters asked Dodgers manager Don Mattingly about Uribe’s situation he said, “eh, part of our club”.

The Dodgers had recently signed second baseman/third baseman Hector Olivera and he’s gearing up for a short stint in the minors before joining the big league club.  This could leave Uribe as the odd man out so the Dodgers are probably looking to move him and get his contract off their books as quickly as possible.

The 36-year-old is batting .247/.287/.309 in the 2015 season, but has only five hits in the month of May.  Uribe brings lots of veteran experience to the ball club (15 year career) , but is this a player the Braves want to take in?

No details of the money/contract situation has been released yet, but he signed a two year contract in 2013 that lasts through the 2015 season.  It’s worth $15M so $6,500,000 per year.  The Braves have money left on their books and could take on this contract if it all works out.

He does hit right-handed pitchers better than left-handed pitchers so this could be a  platoon with Chris Johnson.  But his career stats still don’t match up to what Johnson has done in his career.

This could simply be a deal for both teams to get rid of struggling players and give them a new home.

UPDATE: This trade could involve six players according to Rosenthal.  Uribe and Callaspo plus four minor leaguers.  We’ll keep you updated as details shake out

Juan Uribe career splits

Chris Johnson career splits