A couple of interesting trades.

Tonight, the New York Mets acquired Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from the Atlanta Braves for two minor league pitchers. I think the Mets are going to need Uribe and Johnson to spark their offense, but they both have pop in their bats and can play multiple positions. Uribe is hitting .272 with 8 HR and 23 RBI with both the Dodgers & Braves. Atlanta acquired Uribe from L.A. in late May for Alberto Callaspo. Meanwhile, Johnson is hitting .275 with 9 HR and 34 RBI. The Mets are Johnson’s 8th MLB team since 2005. Johnson has had two stints with the Braves, a stint with the D’Backs and has played with all five AL East teams. I’m sure Johnson will add a 9th team in 2016 as he becomes a free agent. Ditto for Uribe who has two World Series rings with the Chisox in 2005 and the Giants in 2010. That should be of help to the Mets. But I’m sure Mets fans are expecting more of Mets GM Sandy Alderson to compete with the Washington Nationals.

The St. Louis Cardinals have added ex-Miami Marlins closer Steve Cishek to their bullpen. Cishek has spent his entire professional career with the Marlins. He became the team’s closer in the middle of the 2012 season and saved 34 and 39 games in 2013 and 2014, respectively. However, Cishek struggled at the beginning of the season and lost his closer’s job. I’m sure Cishek is happy to be out of Miami and with the first place Cardinals. With his sidearm delivery, I see a lot of 7th and 8th inning work. If Trevor Rosenthal is overworked, Cishek could sub in a pinch. The team with the best record in MLB just got that much better.