Braves trade Yunel Escobar to Blue Jays for Alex Gonzalez

[charlie and algernon]

The second half hasn't begun yet, but the Atlanta Braves made a trade Wednesday to try to stay atop their NL East perch.

The Braves acquired shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who has 17 home runs at the All-Star break, on Wednesday in a five-player trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Atlanta sent shortstop Yunel Escobar and left-handed pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes to Toronto and received Gonzalez and two minor leaguers (shortstop Tyler Pastornicky and pitcher Tim Collins).

"This trade improves our club for the second half of the season," Braves general manager Frank Wren said in a statement. "We have been looking at ways to strengthen our club offensively and Alex Gonzalez is a proven veteran player who gives us added power. He is a winner and a solid offensive presence in the lineup as well as a quality defensive shortstop."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5379421

Not a bad trade, but it's definitely a move to win RIGHT NOW because this is DEFINITELY a fluke year for Alex Gonzalez. Since the most home runs he's hit in a single year is 23, way back in 2004.