What to do with Uggla now?

CrimsonCowboy said:
My opinion still has not changed. I still don't believe we're going to see this happen.
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In general with trading Uggla, or the Phillips deal?

I could see him dealt depending how much money Frank will eat.

The prospect plus Uggla for BP on top of what BP has left of his contract make it very tough.
 
nsacpi said:
Second base was not a safe place to be in the Braves organization last year. We went through Uggla, DeWitt, Pena and Pastornicky. The last three to season-ending injuries and Uggla to eyesight/age-related decline issues.

Not too many organizations can go through the first four guys on the depth chart at any given position and come out of that ok. It is easy in retrospect to say Wren should have been more aggressive in making a trade for a second-baseman. But it is worth keeping in mind that Pastornicky's injury was in mid-August, which was after the trade deadline. Also I don't think anyone expected Uggla to hit worse after the Lasik surgery.

If there is a lesson though from last year, it is that you want to take action once your depth is eroded by season-ending injuries. We got hit hard in two areas last year. Second base and left-handed relief. In both cases Wren dawdled. Poor Luis Avilan got run into the ground after Venters and EOF went down. If you are a contending team, I think you want to act more quickly when those kinds of holes open up in your depth chart. That way you avoid a situation where another injury happens after the trade deadline and you are stuck trying to pick up the likes of Elliot Johnson off the waiver wire.
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Who is Scott Downs?
 
The Braves could move Dan Uggla if they can find a team willing to pay roughly a quarter of the $26MM remaining owed to the second baseman over the next two seasons.

Per MLBTR.
 
From that same MLBTR update:

•The Braves could move Dan Uggla if they can find a team willing to pay roughly a quarter of the $26MM remaining owed to the second baseman over the next two seasons Tyler Pastornicky, Tommy La Stella and Ramiro Pena would all compete for the 2B job in Spring Training, though I'd guess the Braves would want to bring in a more established second baseman.
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He must not visit this forum, where it's already a foregone conclusion that La Stella is a lock.
 
Knucksie said:
From that same MLBTR update:

He must not visit this forum, where it's already a foregone conclusion that La Stella is a lock.
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If the braves can get an established second baseman and lock up Freeman, Heyward, and others then thats fine. But if getting someone that will cost a lot over the next few years and not let us lock up some guys then no, just go with LeStalla and be done with it.
 
Knucksie said:
From that same MLBTR update:

He must not visit this forum, where it's already a foregone conclusion that La Stella is a lock.
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Again with the stupid hyperbole. The vast majority have not said that, and I'm not sure anyone has.
 
I'd much rather give LaStella a shot than go with Phillips. LaStella could be a perfect #2 hitter for us.

Heyward
The Stella
Freeman
Upton
CJ
Gattis
Simmons
BJ
 
No matter what we decide to do, if we get rid of Uggla we'll be upgrading the position and that's a good thing.

I love Phillips as a player but I don't love his contract.
 
Where might we find a landing place for the Owl?

Let's consider the ten teams with the lowest production at second in 2013 (as measured by fWAR), starting from the lowest.

1) Toronto--they still have the disappointing Izturis. I suspect they would not view Uggla as an upgrade.

2) White Sox--have a righty-heavy lineup and would prefer a lefty bat. Also have Semien and other middle infield prospects coming up.

3) Marlins--I could see this happening. Goes without saying we'd pay at least two-thirds of what is owed on the contract, but that also applies to other possible trade partners.

4) Cubs--Doesn't fit in with their rebuilding process

5) Mariners--Could see this happening. Looking for some right-handed pop.

6) Oakland--Was going to say this is a real possibility, but I see they just signed Nick Punto.

7) Washington--divisional rival. Otherwise, might have been a possibility.

8) Atlanta--the default option

9) Rockies--I think this makes some sense

10) Royals--probably want to use Bonifacio at second

Conclusions: Marlins, Mariners and Rockies seem to be the best matches from this list.

Other teams might decide they have a need at second even though they had a good second baseman last year. But I really don't see a good match out there with the other teams. I know the Reds want to move Phillips. And some teams like the Yankees might suffer a loss there through free agency. But I think those other teams are less likely landing places for Owl than the Marlins, Mariners and Rockies.
 
PawPawMaxwell said:
Baltimore Detroit Twins
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Might be some possibilities there.

In the free agent market, Cano, Infante and Mark Ellis are starting caliber second basemen.

There are also some marginal starter/backup types: Kelly Johnson, Schumaker, Brian Roberts. And up until today Punto. I suspect a team that needs a second baseman but doesn't want to spend a lot might be looking at those types and weighing them against someone like Uggla.

Let's play a round of musical chairs to get an idea of how things play out: Cano to the Yankees, Infante to Detroit, Mark Ellis to Seattle, Kelly Johnson to Colorado, Roberts back to Baltimore, Schumaker to Miami. Are any of these pairings going to lead a team to prefer taking a flyer on Uggla?

Furcal might also be considered a viable second base option by some teams. He might be better suited there post TJ surgery.

I'm thinking Seattle and Colorado might be the best matches. Seattle could use some right handed power and might prefer Uggla to the other options and Colorado might be a good place for a hitter with his strengths and weaknesses.
 
nsacpi said:
Might be some possibilities there.

In the free agent market, Cano, Infante and Mark Ellis are starting caliber second basemen.

There are also some marginal starter/backup types: Kelly Johnson, Schumaker, Brian Roberts. And up until today Punto. I suspect a team that needs a second baseman but doesn't want to spend a lot might be looking at those types and weighing them against someone like Uggla.

Let's play a round of musical chairs to get an idea of how things play out: Cano to the Yankees, Infante to Detroit, Mark Ellis to Seattle, Kelly Johnson to Colorado, Roberts back to Baltimore, Schumaker to Miami. Are any of these pairings going to lead a team to prefer taking a flyer on Uggla?

Furcal might also be considered a viable second base option by some teams. He might be better suited there post TJ surgery.

I'm thinking Seattle and Colorado might be the best matches. Seattle could use some right handed power and might prefer Uggla to the other options and Colorado might be a good place for a hitter with his strengths and weaknesses.
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Cano to NYY is pretty safe bet. Detroit will concentrate on LF and BP before Infante. Ellis isnt enough to save the GMs job. Johnson versus Uggla and Uggla costing 3M might entice Colorado. Roberts is doubtful to resign with Baltimore, Cassilla has been released, Machado may not be ready to start season and they dont know what to do with Markakis. Marlins I dont know if they are smart/dumb enough to even pursue Uggla.

It all depends on how much money Wren will eat in the end.
 
Uggla doesn't have to be traded to a team that is going to make him the full time starter at 2B. Scratch that...I just lookd at his splits. He can't even serve as the RHed portion of a platoon.

Here's the rub:

If giving Uggla away only saves $3M per year, why bother? Why save such little cash and take the cahnce he rebounds with another team? If that's all Wren can save then I say stick him in AAA and use him as insurance at 2B in case the position is cursed this year as well.

A $3M gamble on Uggla figuring it out in AAA seems worthwhile to me if that's all the cash that can be saved by trading him.
 
Enscheff said:
Uggla doesn't have to be traded to a team that is going to make him the full time starter at 2B. Scratch that...I just lookd at his splits. He can't even serve as the RHed portion of a platoon.

Here's the rub:

If giving Uggla away only saves $3M per year, why bother? Why save such little cash and take the cahnce he rebounds with another team? If that's all Wren can save then I say stick him in AAA and use him as insurance at 2B in case the position is cursed this year as well.

A $3M gamble on Uggla figuring it out in AAA seems worthwhile to me if that's all the cash that can be saved by trading him.
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I agree. We should be looking for a little more in savings.
 
nsacpi said:
I agree. We should be looking for a little more in savings.
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Wait a sec, arent you one of those ready to crown La Stella and give him the job tomorrow? If he is all you think he is then dump Uggla and you have a 13.5M 2nd baseman. Im J/K but in truth, if Uggla can even be moved for 3M a year in savings its not the end of the world.
 
PawPawMaxwell said:
Wait a sec, arent you one of those ready to crown La Stella and give him the job tomorrow? If he is all you think he is then dump Uggla and you have a 13.5M 2nd baseman. Im J/K but in truth, if Uggla can even be moved for 3M a year in savings its not the end of the world.
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Not really. Imo Pena is likely to turn out to be the best of our internal options. He and Pastornicky would make a decent platoon at second. But I wouldn't rule out Uggla rebounding to some extent and winning the job back if we held on to him.
 
Yeah, teams take fliers on players like Uggla bouncing back ALL the time. If the cost of that gamble is only $3M then I'd rather see the Braves take that chance rather than letting another team potentially benefit from a rebound. Uggla still has tremendous power and an excellent eye at the plate, so it isn't exactly the most outlandish idea that he could figure it out. I doubt he does, but the chances are certainly non-zero.

Now if some team is willing to take on $10M+ of the $26M he is owed...that suddenly becomes a salary dump worth doing.
 
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