ATLANTA, July 20 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Braves Thursday acquired closer Bob Wickman in a trade with Cleveland in exchange for minor league catcher Maximiliano Ramirez.
Wickman was the all-time saves leader for the Indians franchise with 139.
This season, he was 1-4 with a 4.18 ERA, with 15 saves in 29 games. He struggled in June, posting an ERA of 9.00, and converting just three of six save opportunities.
Wickman is the closer that Atlanta was seeking as it inches closer to wild-card status in the National League.
The Braves likely will have their streak of 14 straight NL East titles broken by the New York Mets, who have had a stranglehold on the division from the outset of the season.
"We needed a closer, whether we're 10 back or 4 1/2 back," said General Manager John Schuerholz on the Braves' Web site. "We just felt like this was the right thing to do based on our circumstances now."
