When the Dodgers signed veteran third baseman Juan Uribe to a three-year – $21 million contract on November 30, 2010, a mere three weeks after he had helped the San Francisco Giants to their first-ever World Series championship since moving from New York in 1958, Dodgers fans thought they were getting a huge upgrade from then 36-year-old veteran third baseman Casey Blake. After all, Uribe had hit a crucial home run in Game-1 of that World Series to put the game (and basically the entire series) out of reach for the highly favored Texas Rangers, who lost to the Giants in five games.

But what Dodger fans had apparently overlooked was the fact that including that dramatic home run, Uribe was 3 for 30 ( .158) in the World Series and 7 for 51 (.137) in the entire 2010 postseason. They also apparently overlooked the fact that Uribe hit only .248 during the 2010 regular season. But what they and then Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti did not overlook were the 24 home runs that Uribe had hit as compared to the 17 hit by Casey Blake in 2010. Blake also had (are you ready for this) an identical .248 batting average in 2010.

But regardless, Uribe became a Dodger and he was absolutely awful – not with the glove, but with his horrendous .204 batting average in 2011 and even more horrendous .191 batting average in 2012 with a combined total of six home runs. He was, hands down, Colletti’s worst signing since Andruw Jones. Not a single daily media briefing with Dodgers manager Don Mattingly went by without someone in the press corps asking “When are you going to get rid of Juan Uribe?” But as he so often does, Mattingly would skirt the never-ending question and instead say how great of a clubhouse guy Uribe was – something that nobody in the media could or would dare argue.

To their credit and even more so to their patience, Colletti and Mattingly stood their ground and stayed with their struggling third baseman, this in spite of constant and often brutal criticism from Dodger fans and the media alike. Oh sure, the Dodgers toyed around with Luis Cruz and Justin Sellers at the hot corner, but Uribe continued to get the lion’s share of the starts at third base, in spite of his Mendoza Line-ish offense. (Author’s note: Had Luis Cruz had even a mediocre beginning to the 2013 season, he would have locked down the everyday third base job, but he, too, failed miserably and was eventually designated for assignment and the job returned to Uribe, regardless of his offensive shortcomings in 2011 and 2012).

And then something unusual happened – the Juan Uribe that the Dodgers had hoped to get finally showed up in 2013. Not only did the 34-year-old Palenque, Dominican Republic native have a Gold Glove-worthy season defensively, he hit a very impressive .278 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. But Uribe absolutely won the hearts of Dodger fans on October 7, 2013 when, after two failed sacrifice but attempts, he hit a monster home run in Game-4 of the National League Division Series that turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 Dodgers win and a trip to the NLCS.

Uribe’s dramatic home run in Game-4 of the 2013 NLDS ranks right up there with the biggest home runs in Dodgers history. (Photo credit: Jon SooHoo – Click on image to view video)

Much to the pleasure of Dodger fans, Uribe’s great regular season and even greater postseason led to a well deserved two-year – $15 million contract extension by the Dodgers new ownership group.

Uribe would go on to have the best season of his career in 2014 hitting .311 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs. He also etched his name in Dodgers history when he hit three home runs on September 9, 2014 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. But without question, it was his hilarious interactions with teammates Hyun-jin Ryu and Yasiel Puig that Dodger fans will forever remember – not to mention the absolute craziness in the Dodgers clubhouse between these three.

Often times the antics in the Dodgers dugout between Ryu and Uribe were more entertaining than the action on the field. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

And then something unusual happened – the 2011 and 2012 Juan Uribe showed up for spring training this past February. After a dismal spring in which the now 36-year-old Uribe hit a mere .216, he carried over his poor numbers into the regular season. And although the popular third baseman at one point had a 13-game hitting streak that bumped his average up to .247, he was significantly outhit by utility infielders Alex Guerrero (.313) and Justin Turner (.287), who also have 10 home runs and five home runs respectively compared to Uribe’s one.

Over the past week, Mattingly has been repeated asked about Uribe’s status with the team and the Dodgers skipper has repeatedly said that he is going with the hot hand(s) at third base, which clearly excluded Uribe. No longer does the struggling third baseman have Mattingly in his corner as he once did and Colletti is gone as the Dodgers GM.

With the pressure mounting against Uribe and with his contract due to expire at the end of this season; and more importantly, with Cuban sensation Hector Olivera (probably) only three or four weeks away from joining the first-place Dodgers as their projected everyday third baseman, the Dodgers have apparently ended their relationship with Uribe.

Although there has been no official announcement from the Dodgers, it has been confirmed through many sources that Uribe has been traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for utility infielder Alberto Callaspo, left-hander (and former Dodger) Eric Stults and two minor league pitchers. It has been reported that the Braves will also receive recovering Dodgers fireballer Chris Withrow who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and back surgery and not expected back before the All-Star break (but probably even longer).

Whatever your personal opinion is of Juan Uribe during his roller coaster five seasons with the Dodgers, it is simply impossible not to like the guy for the enthusiasm and never-say-die attitude that he brought to the team. He will truly be missed by Dodger fans and his teammates alike – especially for one South Korean teammate in particular.

Godspeed to you Juan
(Image courtesy of MLB.com)