ATLANTA — Derrek Lee passed up the chance to get on the fringe of the playoff race.

Now he's right in the middle of it.

The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves bulked up for the pennant chase Wednesday, acquiring the slugging first baseman from the Chicago Cubs for three minor league pitchers.

Atlanta already had Troy Glaus at first base but, in an unexpected move, the team put him on the 15-day disabled list. General manager Frank Wren wants Glaus to rest his legs for a week, then head to Triple-A Gwinnett to get in some work at his former position, third base.

Lee is now THE man at first for the Braves.

"It doesn't get any better," said Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, whose season-ending knee injury sparked the trade. "Outstanding character guy. Outstanding player. Defensively at first base, he's top notch. And he gives us another right-handed presence in the middle of our lineup."

Lee just wants another shot at the World Series. He played on Florida's championship team in 2003 before moving to Chicago, where he put up some big numbers over seven seasons — including a career-best 46 homers in '05 — but never got back to the Series.

Last month, he turned down a trade to the Los Angeles Angels, exercising his rights as a 10-year veteran who had played at least five years with the same team. He was concerned about the Angels having too much ground to make up in the AL West.

The 34-year-old Lee was more comfortable coming to Atlanta, which led two-time defending NL champion Philadelphia by 2Z\x games going into Wednesday's contest against Washington.

"The main thing is we've got six weeks to go and Atlanta's in first place," Lee said.