The Braves needed a shortstop after Rafael Furcal signed a three-year, $39 million free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“We had a significant gap to fill, and we believe we’ve done that,” Braves GM John Schuerholz said. “As painful as it is to trade a player with Marte’s caliber, it needed to be done. The Red Sox got a fine young player, and we’re delighted to have Edgar Renteria with the Atlanta Braves.”

Renteria made the last out for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, when Boston won it all for the first time since 1918. The Red Sox signed him to lead their defense.

But he was a liability in the field for Boston and struggled early at the plate, finishing with a .276 average, eight homers and 70 RBIs. The Red Sox had been hoping for something more like the .330 average, 13 homers and 100 RBIs he had when he won his second consecutive Gold Glove in 2003.

“We were aware of it (the dropoff), of course,” Schuerholz said. “But we looked at his time in the National League and we believe that when he gets back to the National League in Atlanta he will return to the Renteria of old.”

Marte, 22, batted .275 with 20 homers and 74 RBIs in 109 games in Triple-A last season, and .140 with no homers and four RBIs in 24 games with the Braves.

“This is a throwback type of third baseman,” said Lajoie, a throwback type of GM. “This is the power corner that you hope will hit 25 homers when he does play in the majors.”

Boston will pay $8 million of the $26 million Renteria is owed for the next three seasons. In addition, the Red Sox must pay the $3 million buyout if his $11 million option for 2009 is declined.

Renteria contract calls for him to receive a $1 million bonus from any team he is traded to. He also is owed $3 million from his signing bonus, $1 million each Jan. 15 for the next three years. That usually is paid by the original club.

Also Thursday, the Red Sox picked right-hander Jamie Vermilyea in the winter meetings draft. He must remain on Boston’s 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Vermilyea was 19-9 with eight saves and a 3.05 ERA in 99 minor league appearances. Although he struggled at the end of last season, the Red Sox were encouraged by his performance in the winter leagues.

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