Catcher Estrada joins the Mets in trade with Brewers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Mets acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in exchange for right handed pitcher Guillermo Mota.

The Mets had been looking for a starting catcher since they failed to entice free agent Yorvit Torrealba last week.

Former All-Star Estrada, 31, batted .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBI in 120 games for the Brewers last season.

"Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said in a statement. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career."

Estrada, a National League All Star in 2004, has batted .280 with 42 homers and 281 RBI in 589 major league games with Philadelphia, Atlanta, Arizona and Milwaukee.

He had arthroscopic surgery last month to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)