ATLANTA, July 14 (UPI) -- Atlanta came out of the all-star break Wednesday looking to bolster its chances of winning another division title by swapping shortstops with Toronto.
The Braves got veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez by giving the Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar and pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes. Atlanta also got minor league prospects Tim Collins, a pitcher, and Tyler Pastornicky, another shortstop, in the deal.
Gonzalez, 33, is hitting .259 with 17 home runs and 50 RBI in 85 games this season.
Escobar, 27, is batting .238 with 19 RBI in 75 games.
Over four seasons with Atlanta, Reyes is 5-15 with a 6.40 earned run average over 41 games (37 starts).
The Braves are in first place in the National League East, four games ahead of the New York Mets. Philadelphia is another half-game back in third.
