Francoeur Traded To Mets

((HT: CBSSports))

The slumping New York Mets have traded outfielder Ryan Church ((pictured, thanks Newsday file)) to the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Jeff Francoeur.

The deal came Friday, with the injury-ravaged Mets trying to avoid falling farther back in the NL East race.

Church is hitting .280 with two home runs and 22 RBI. Francoeur is hitting .250 with five homers and 35 RBI.

From the Braves their own selves...

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets announced a two-player trade today, as the Braves acquired outfielder Ryan Church in exchange for outfielder Jeff Francoeur and cash considerations. Church is expected to be in Denver, Colo., tomorrow (Saturday) for the Braves’ weekend series with the Colorado Rockies.

Church, 30, is in his 10th professional season and his sixth in the major leagues. The 6-foot-2, 218-pounder owns a .273 career batting average, with 49 home runs and 224 RBIs in 504 games with the Expos/Nationals and Mets.

He batted .280 with two home runs in 67 games for the Mets this season. Against right-handed pitchers Church had a .310 (57-for-184) average, with a .360 on-base percentage, a .424 slugging percentage, 15 doubles, two homers and 18 RBIs.

Last season, Church was limited to 90 games with the Mets due to two stints on the disabled list with post-concussion syndrome. He batted .276, with 27 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs and 49 RBIs.

In 2007 with Washington, Church posted career highs in nearly every offensive category, including games (144), runs (57), hits (128), extra-base hits (59), doubles (43), home runs (15), RBIs (70) and walks (49). His 43 doubles tied for eighth in the National League.

Originally drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 14th round of the June 2000 Draft, Church attended the University of Nevada. He was traded to the Montreal Expos in January 2004. Church and his wife Tina reside in Viera, Fla., with their son Mason.

Francoeur, 25, batted .250 with five home runs and 35 RBIs in 82 games for the Braves this season. He batted .266 with 78 home runs in 631 games for the Braves since making his debut in 2005.

Here's some instant, stunned analysis from ESPN's Buster Olney from Brian Kenny