Dodgers complete six-player trade of Juan Uribe to Atlanta Braves
The Dodgers completed a trade Wednesday to send third baseman
Curiouser and curiouser?
The Dodgers finally announced their trade of Juan Uribe to the Altanta Braves Wednesday, and, even if it was pretty much everything that was expected, it still came with unusual twists.
The Dodgers received four players — infielder Alberto Callaspo, left-handed reliever Ian Thomas, minor league right-hander Juan Jaime and left-hander Eric Stults — in exchange for Uribe and right-hander Chris Withrow.
And, just as expected, they immediately designated for assignment one of their new acquisitions — only not Callaspo, but Stults. That puts them on the hook for the rest of the $2-million salary Stults is still owed this season.
Meanwhile, Callaspo — who was hitting just .206 for the Braves — will apparently take up a utility role. The Dodgers’ press release on the trade trumpeted that Callaspo has played third, first, second, short, left and right, while failing to mention he’s hit a combined .219 over the last two seasons.
Stults, 35, was originally a Dodger starter they gave up on and sold to the Japanese league in 2010. He returned to the U.S. the next season and has pitched for four different major league teams since. He was 1-5 with a 5.85 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in nine games (eight starts) for the Braves.
The Dodgers optioned Thomas to triple-A Oklahoma City and sent Jaime to their training complex in Phoenix. Callaspo is scheduled to be in uniform against the Braves on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Thomas had appeared in five games (5 1/3 innings) for the Braves this season, allowing two earned runs on four hits and five walks. Jaime is 27 and has primarily been in the minors since 2006, so it’s not like the Dodgers are getting significant prospects back in this deal.
Withrow, however, is a former No. 1 pick currently out after Tommy John surgery. In 46 games with the Dodgers the right-hander has a 2.73 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and has struck out 11.8 per nine innings.
The Dodgers did say they would still have their Uribe bobblehead promotion on July 11.
Follow Steve Dilbeck on Twitter @SteveDilbeck
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