Mets' Low-Key Moves a Much-Needed Shot in the Arm for Their Playoff Hopes

The New York Mets' splashes did not cause any tidal waves, nor are they expected to be the kind of game-changers that severely alter the playoff races.

But that is not what they were meant to signal. 

The Mets’ acquisitions, announced Friday, of Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a pair of secondary minor league pitching prospects—John Gant and Rob Whalen—are simply shots to the lineup. They are meant to give it a boost and much-needed depth, not completely change the way it performs.

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

To do that will require a blockbuster deal. Uribe and Johnson are not that. But they give the Mets hope that more is to come to aid their run toward their first postseason berth since 2006.

What they had before trading for those two was simply not good enough. Case in point: Thursday’s cleanup hitter, John Mayberry Jr., was designated for assignment Friday, per Maria Guardado of NJ.com. Rarely is a player his team’s cleanup hitter one day and then cut the next.

The Mets are one of the worst offenses in the majors no matter what category you cut it with. The unit intimidates nobody and is so bad it likely couldn’t supplement the team's strong starting pitching enough over the next two-plus months to make the playoffs.

The New York Post's Joel Sherman notes a glaring difference between the Mets' acquisitions and some of the lineup's incumbents:

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#Mets have been sending up too many players to hit who are not major leaguers. Uribe and Johnson are major leaguers. #Braves

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 24, 2015"

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was terse when discussing trade possibilities with the media Thursday. He said the team could take on significant salary in a trade, and he’s said in the recent past that he would be willing to overpay for the right player. 

“We’re not looking at somebody who is going to be a starter for us the rest of the season necessarily but it has to be somebody who fits that we think can actually help us either short-term or a little bit longer-term,” Alderson told reporters June 26. “I’m prepared to overpay, but there has to be something to overpay for.”

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Again, Uribe and Johnson aren’t that “something.” But they are a start. Uribe has a 127 OPS+ with the Braves, and Johnson has a 113 OPS+. Of the Mets’ current regulars entering Friday, Uribe’s mark with the Braves would be the team’s highest in that category and Johnson would be tied for second-highest with Curtis Granderson.

Uribe is coming off a couple of productive seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded him to the Braves in May after a poor start. L.A. also had a gaggle of players sharing time at third base. Since landing with Atlanta, Uribe has hit .285/.353/.464 with an .817 OPS and seven home runs in 167 plate appearances.

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

If he keeps up that kind of production, Uribe, who will be a free agent after the season, could be one of the biggest steals of the trade season.

Uribe also gives the Mets a legitimate replacement for David Wright at third base. Wright has been out of the lineup since mid-April because of a hamstring injury and then spinal stenosis. His return date still has not been set. Uribe is steady defensively and could be a solid bat for the Mets if he produces like he has with the Braves, who gave him consistent playing time, which the Dodgers could not.

Johnson has primarily played first base and left field for the Braves while hitting .275/.321/.451 with nine homers and a .772 OPS. Over his last 19 games, though, Johnson has hit .283/.356/.472 with an .828 OPS and three homers in 60 plate appearances. Newsday's Marc Carig offered his opinion about the trade:

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So, Mets double their better-than-average offensive players and give up two prospects that won’t kill you. That’s a good trade.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) July 25, 2015"

Obviously Uribe and Johnson cannot be the Mets' last move. The offense is so putrid—it ranks 15th in the NL in runs, average, slugging percentage and OPS and is 10th in home runs and 14th in OBP—that a couple of decent players are not going to completely change its fortunes.

The Mets need a big gun. They need an Uzi or a bazooka. Even a double-barreled shotgun would suffice at this point.

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

That means someone like Troy Tulowitzki, Justin Upton or even Adam Lind. Drop one of those guys in with Uribe and Johnson and hopefully a healthy Travis d’Arnaud (elbow) and maybe even Wright in August, and suddenly the Mets look like a respectable offense.

That kind of lineup paired with their rotation, which has the fifth-lowest ERA in the league (3.41), is a pretty good recipe for a postseason spot as the Mets sit three games out of the NL East lead and a wild-card berth.

Now that New York has given its offense a couple of sturdy crutches, we’ll wait to see if it gives it new legs to stand on before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

All quotes, unless otherwise specified, have been acquired first-hand by Anthony Witrado. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.