Juan Uribe added to Mets' World Series roster
— -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- New York Mets infielder Juan Uribe has been added to the team's roster for the World Series in place of backup shortstop Matt Reynolds.
Uribe has not appeared in a game since leaving a pinch-hitting opportunity on Sept. 25 in Cincinnati with a flare-up of a chest injury. He originally suffered cartilage damage five days earlier while diving for a grounder at second base.
Acquired with Kelly Johnson in a trade with the Atlanta Braves on July 24, Uribe is the lone player on the Mets' roster to have won a World Series, and the Mets value his presence in the dugout and clubhouse. He earned titles in 2005 with the Chicago White Sox and 2010 with the San Francisco Giants.
"I can walk through the locker room. I can't find anybody who's got two World Series rings except him," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "When Ned [Yost] has to look at the bottom of the lineup card and sees Juan Uribe's name, I know that gets his attention."
Although Uribe, 36, hit a modest .219 in 128 at-bats after joining the Mets, he also had six homers and 20 RBIs, including clutch production off the bench.
Collins added that Uribe's value goes beyond his on-the-field performance.
"In the clubhouse, he's exactly what you guys have all heard about," Collins said. "He's funny. He's upbeat. He never has a bad day. He's great with the Latin players. He's tremendous with the American players. We thought that was going to be a big benefit to have somebody who's been here and has that personality to keep everything a little looser. Everybody thinks this is a pressure-packed, tension thing. We need somebody to loosen it up a little bit, and he's one of those guys."
Reynolds had been added to the roster for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers after Ruben Tejada fractured a fibula in his right leg on a late slide by Chase Utley the previous game. Reynolds had been bidding to become the second player in MLB history to make his major league debut in the postseason, joining Mark Kiger in 2006 with the Oakland Athletics. However, Reynolds did not appear in a postseason game in the remainder of the NLDS, or against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series.
The decision to drop Reynolds leaves the Mets with no bona fide backup shortstop if Flores needs to depart a game. Johnson would be the best alternative, but he is due to start Game 1 of the World Series as the designated hitter.
It is easier to leave Reynolds off the roster in the World Series than in previous rounds. In the NLDS or NLCS, if a player such as Flores needed to be replaced on the roster because of injury, it would make him ineligible for the next round as well. Now, with the Mets in the World Series, Reynolds could be added the day after a potential injury to Flores with no similar repercussion.
Other than subbing Uribe for Reynolds, the Mets' roster is identical to the NLCS, with left-hander Sean Gilmartin claiming the final bullpen spot over right-hander Erik Goeddel.
