The Atlanta Braves have dealt shortstop Yunel Escobar and left-handed pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes to the Toronto Blue Jays for shortstop Alex Gonzalez, left-handed minor-league pitcher Tim Collins and minor-league shortstop Tyler Pastornicky.
The 33-year-old Gonzalez entered the All-Star break with a .259 batting average, 17 home runs, 25 doubles and 50 RBIs. Gonzalez currently ranks tied for fifth in the American League with 43 extra-base hits.
"This trade improves our club for the second half of the season," Braves general manager Frank Wren said in a press release. "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."
Gonzalez, who began his career with Florida in 1998, was part of the Marlins' World Series champs in 2003. In 1,314 career games over his 12-year major league career, Gonzalez has collected 1,172 hits with 131 home runs and 571 RBIs. He is signed through the 2010 season, with a Club option for 2011.
Collins, 20, has appeared in 35 games for Double-A New Hampshire this season, with a 2.51 ERA, a .174 opponents' batting average and 73 strikeouts with just 16 walks in 43.0 innings pitched. He was named to a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star in 2009 and was named by Baseball America as a High Class-A All-Star in 2008.
Pastornicky, 20, has batted .258 with six home runs, 35 RBIs at 24 stolen bases in 77 games for Class-A Dunedin this season. He was the Blue Jays' fifth-round selection in the 2008 Draft.
Escobar, 27, batted .238 with no home runs and 19 RBIs in 75 games for the Braves this season. Reyes, 25, appeared in one game for the Braves in 2010 and owns a 5-15 career record with a 6.40 ERA in 41 games (37 starts).