Editorials

Juan Uribe Content With Being Traded, Confident He Can Regain Form



As expected the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers completed a six-player trade Wednesday, centered around Alberto Callaspo and Juan Uribe. For Uribe, it signals the end of his time with the Dodgers and opportunity to reset the clock with presumably more playing time.

Uribe had fallen behind Alex Guerrero and Justin Turner at third base, played sparingly, but was no less revered by teammates and fans. Speaking to assembled media from the Dodgers dugout prior to Wednesday’s series finale against the Braves, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Uribe through his agent expressed a desire to play every day.

Friedman went on to say it led to honest discussions between the Dodgers front office and Uribe, and ultimately a trade to the Braves. While Uribe’s new home will now be Turner Field, his first game in a new uniform comes at a familiar setting — Dodger Stadium.

“I feel good about being here [with the Braves],” Uribe said when asked about his reaction to the trade. “I’m going to miss my teammates and I think I can return to form like I was before.” Uribe also said it would be difficult needing to immediately face his former team, but that it was easier than his changing teams in 2011.

“It’s not going to be as difficult as when I went from the Giants to the Dodgers. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the fans and I’m expecting appreciation from them for what I did.”

Uribe’s tenure with the Dodgers got off to a rocky start and frustration from the fan base continued to mount as he struggled at the plate. He turned a corner in 2013, hit a go-ahead home run in Game 4 of the National League Division Series and forever endeared himself to Los Angeles.

Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon both received a rousing applause in their first game against the Dodgers, and there’s no reason to believe Uribe won’t be given the same treatment.

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