Emotional Uribe headed to Braves
LOS ANGELES -- En route to the elevator on his last trip out of the Dodgers' clubhouse after an 8-0 win over the Braves, Juan Uribe was asked what he would miss most about the Dodgers.
He heard fans yelling for him, pointed at them and choked up. Unable to answer, he walked away, headed to the Braves, barring any unforeseen hang-ups.
Uribe and injured reliever Chris Withrow are set to be traded on Wednesday by the Dodgers to the Braves for infielder Alberto Callaspo and three pitchers -- former Dodgers left-hander Eric Stults, lefty Ian Thomas and righty Juan Jaime.
Uribe said he was told the deal would be made official Tuesday night (which didn't happen) or Wednesday morning.
"I'm good. I'm OK," said Uribe, who came out to the field in uniform for the national anthem, but was not in the dugout for the game.
The trade originally was agreed to on Monday, but Callaspo stalled it by exercising his right to veto the deal, then changed his mind.
The trade talks were first reported by FOX Sports. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez confirmed the deal would be done Wednesday.
Callaspo is batting .223 this year, Uribe .247. But for the Dodgers this deal is more a case of moving Uribe than acquiring Callaspo.
As popular as the 36-year-old Uribe is, and as productive as he's been at times, he had become obsolete as a third baseman with the play of Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero.
That situation will only become more complicated when Hector Olivera, signed to a $62.5 million contract out of Cuba, arrives in a matter of weeks. Callaspo could be gone by then.
For the short term, the 32-year-old Callaspo is considered better suited to playing off the bench than Uribe. The Dodgers also will save salary, as Callaspo earns $3 million this year and Uribe $6.5 million.
Withrow, a former first-round pick, is recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction and a herniated disk in his lower back. He hasn't pitched in a year.
Stults, 35, was with the Dodgers from 2006-09 and opened this season in the Braves' starting rotation. He pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings for the Braves Tuesday night.
Thomas, a 28-year-old left-handed reliever, has had brief stints with the Braves the last two seasons. His first four professional seasons were in independent ball.
The right-handed Jaime, 27, like Thomas has had brief tours the last two seasons with the Braves, and might have the most upside of the four players coming to the Dodgers, although this already is his 12th professional season. The Dodgers will be his fourth organization.