Just Mets

The Mets reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Juan Uribe from the Dodgers earlier this season before he was ultimately dealt to the Braves.

The Mets backed off from the deal with the Dodgers as they anticipated David Wright was close to returning. He never did, and while he’s set to ramp up baseball activities and work towards returning, there’s no certainty he will.

The Mets have clearly remained interested in Uribe, and on Friday they announced they acquired the veteran third baseman along with veteran utility player Kelly Johnson from Atlanta in exchange for minor league pitchers Rob Whalen and John Gant.

Uribe, 36, got off to a slow start with the Dodgers before being traded, but has picked up his production while with the Braves, hitting .285/.353/.464 with seven home runs and 17 RBI in 46 games with Atlanta.

Uribe can be a free agent at the end of this season – he is making $6.5 million in 2015.

Uribe is mostly a third baseman at this point in his career, although he can play first and second base if needed. He’s about league average at third base at this point in his career, which is still an upgrade over Murphy. It’s not clear how he might fit as an everyday player here, but he is going to help deepen this roster, for sure and is an outstanding clubhouse guy, according to current and former teammates of his.

As for Johnson, he profiles more as a super utility player who has good pop and can play all over the infield and outfield. He is very much like Ben Zobrist, perhaps a notch below, but he has a ton of experience and again, he helps deepen this roster which is badly in need of an injection of talent. Like Uribe, Johnson is another quality clubhouse presence, who will

Johnson can be a free agent after the 2015 season – he is earning $1.5 million in 2015.

Neither of these guys are sexy names by any means. But, for a roster badly in need of big league talent, that’s what these guys are. They’re solid, predictable and reliable major league players, and it will put people who belong on the bench back on the bench, which is important too.

To make room for Uribe and Johnson on the active and 40-man rosters, the Mets optioned Daniel Muno to Triple-A Las Vegas, transferred David Wright to the 60-day disabled list, and designated John Mayberry Jr. for assignment.

Mayberry was a disappointment for the Mets. Signed for $1.45 million during the winter meetings, his task was to play and produce against left-handed pitching. But he did anything but produce against southpaws, hitting just .175 with 15 strikeouts in 62 plate appearances against them.

Original post, 6:40 pm, update 11:35 pm