New York Mets acquire Uribe, Johnson from Atlanta Braves

Seeking some help for a struggling lineup, the New York Mets acquired utility infielders Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson for two minor league pitchers, the Mets announced Friday night.

Atlanta pulled Uribe from the lineup prior to Friday's game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.

Uribe, who has World Series rings with the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants, is batting .285 since Atlanta obtained him in a six-player deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He is considered a reliable defender at third base, a position that has been a need for the Mets since David Wright went on the disabled list April 15 with an injury that went from being a hamstring issue to spinal stenosis in his back.

Uribe is owed $6.5 million this season.

The Mets have been playing Daniel Murphy at third base for most of Wright's absence.

Johnson returned to Atlanta after spending last year with the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox. He signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in the offseason and is batting .275 with nine home runs while making a $1.5 guarantee for making the Braves.

To obtain Uribe and Johnson, the Mets will reportedly send pitchers John Gant and Rob Whalen to the Braves. Gant is pitching for Double-A Binghamton while Whalen is pitching for Class A St. Luice.