What to do with Uggla now?

As odd as it seems, count me in. I've been expecting someone in the media to start kicking the tires on this deal for over a week now. Was on the verge of posting about why it would make sense from Wren's standpoint on my blog Wednesday...looks like it's time to start writing.

While the longer contract is a bit of a concern, a trade for Phillips would make this team arguably the most dynamic in baseball with the Uptons, Heyward, Freeman, and Gattis. Phillips' presence would certainly lighten the mood of everyone around the clubhouse - something that's definitely not happening if everyone has to wait and hope that Uggla suddenly has a resurgence. While I agree Wren didn't say it in so many words it's awfully tough to read his comments and come away thinking that if ANYONE would make a deal where swallowing the money makes sense, he's set on moving him.

Whether I'd do it if I were Cincy is an entirely different question...would have to be a pretty damn good prospect.

And making the deal certainly wouldn't prohibit Wren from going after a true #1 IF they're seriously considering it - the trade would be close to salary-neutral as well as significantly improving the team defensively...all the more reason to make a serious push for a Title while you've got this nucleus together.
 
Fangraphs is projecting Brandon Phillips to have a 3.0 WAR in 2014, and he's due to make 11, 12, 13, 14 mil in the next 4 years. With 1 War = 5 mil value, doesn't that mean he's undervalued per his contract?
 
I think Phillips is definitely worth the contract next year and maybe the year after that. The problem comes with age and the potential for his skills to degrade, as well as his price tag goes up as he gets older.
 
I hadn't planned to post again this season after the loss in the NLDS. But given the Uggla trade rumors, I decided to come back and give my take on it. Personally, I don't like the idea of blocking prospects with someone like Phillips. We have some pretty solid second base options for the future, IMO. I see potential with Pastornicky, La Stella and also Peraza in a few years too. Phillips has a four year deal, so unless he's traded later on he'd certainly block the first two and possibly Peraza in a few years. However, I would be okay with taking on Phillips if only for a year or so. But the problem there is that Phillips also seems to be in decline (not so much like Uggla but still in decline). Plus he's getting older and would be moving from a ballpark that gives up cheap homers to one that doesn't. I could see Phillips going from 18 homers a year to less than 15 a year in Atlanta. So unless he bounces back with a solid season here we could find ourselves in a similar situation with him. This could be the case as soon as next off-season with him having three years left to go. I'm not willing to give up a top prospect to take such a gamble. If the Reds will take someone like Gilmartin along with Uggla, then I'd seriously consider it. But if they want someone like Sims or Bethancourt they can take their business elsewhere.

To sum it up, I don't really like the idea but I figure any trade with Uggla won't be pretty. Still, I would rather eat a lot of Uggla's contract and/or trade for another bad contract. At least if this trade includes giving up one of our better prospects. Quite frankly, if it does then I'm certainly not interested.

Note, we all know Simmons has short locked down. So Peraza will need to play second or third in the Majors. That's why I consider him among future options at second.
 
I think Wren will probably look around at other options for second, but if the Reds take Uggla from us, it is awfully tempting to agree to that trade.
 
Gary82 said:
I think Wren will probably look around at other options for second, but if the Reds take Uggla from us, it is awfully tempting to agree to that trade.
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It isn't tempting at all for me if the "top prospect" is someone like Sims. If it's not him they ask for it will likely be one of our other top starting pitching prospects, IMO. Then they might still want us to pay some of Uggla's contract too.
 
Braves1976 said:
It isn't tempting at all for me if the "top prospect" is someone like Sims. If it's not him they ask for it will likely be one of our other top starting pitching prospects, IMO. Then they might still want us to pay some of Uggla's contract too.
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No one but you has uttered the words "top prospect".
 
Braves1976 said:
It isn't tempting at all for me if the "top prospect" is someone like Sims. If it's not him they ask for it will likely be one of our other top starting pitching prospects, IMO. Then they might still want us to pay some of Uggla's contract too.
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They might want a "Prospect" to soften the blow but doubt that money would be a hold up. You have to understand that Phillips really pissed ownership off over the Votto deal.
 
I'm with BRule, bad trade.

Phillips's offensive numbers the last year as wRC+

2011 - 122
2012 - 101
2013 - 91

We don't need another Dan Uggla in 2 years.

While Uggla blows, Phillips is on his way to sucking and while Phillips's floor is much higher because of his added speed and defensive value, Phillips will be on contract longer. No way do I trade Uggla and a top prospect for Phillips even if we toss in no cash. The one bright spot with Uggs is he's a FA same time as Justin and Jason so keeping those guys is made slightly easier because we have an additional 13M coming off the books after 2015, with Phillips we wouldn't have that money coming off in fact we'd be adding a cost of 14M on our budget so kiss one of them for sure good bye.

Say no to Brandon Phillips.

I'd rather pay Uggla 13M on the bench and start La Stella.
 
zitothebrave said:
I'm with BRule, bad trade.

Phillips's offensive numbers the last year as wRC+

2011 - 122
2012 - 101
2013 - 91

We don't need another Dan Uggla in 2 years.

While Uggla blows, Phillips is on his way to sucking and while Phillips's floor is much higher because of his added speed and defensive value, Phillips will be on contract longer. No way do I trade Uggla and a top prospect for Phillips even if we toss in no cash. The one bright spot with Uggs is he's a FA same time as Justin and Jason so keeping those guys is made slightly easier because we have an additional 13M coming off the books after 2015, with Phillips we wouldn't have that money coming off in fact we'd be adding a cost of 14M on our budget so kiss one of them for sure good bye.

Say no to Brandon Phillips.

I'd rather pay Uggla 13M on the bench and start La Stella.
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Just another reason I doubt you ever become a GM.
 
PawPawMaxwell said:
Just another reason I doubt you ever become a GM.
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Why because I'd rather not handicap my team long term with an obviously bad contract? Phillips probably makes us better next year, maybe the following year, but who do you prefer, Phillips or one of Justin, Jason, Freddie, Kimbrel, Minor, or Medlen because one of those guys will have to be let go for sure who may be able to be kept around because of keeping Phillips. I'd take everyone of those guys over Phillips every day and twice on Sunday.
 
zitothebrave said:
Why because I'd rather not handicap my team long term with an obviously bad contract? Phillips probably makes us better next year, maybe the following year, but who do you prefer, Phillips or one of Justin, Jason, Freddie, Kimbrel, Minor, or Medlen because one of those guys will have to be let go for sure who may be able to be kept around because of keeping Phillips. I'd take everyone of those guys over Phillips every day and twice on Sunday.
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There is no way you can justify bringing aboard as 32 year old declining player on that contract.

We are going back to the ridiculous notion of not trusting young players. EVERY MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER WAS AT ONE POINT A MINOR LEAGUER! Let that sink in for a second.....

Ok, now on to LaStella. He has two main positives:

1) He is cheap which is what the Braves need because its time to start locking up the core
2) He is the exact opposite of what most of the hitters are on that team and that is a contact hitter who doesn't strike out

So, all of the "know it alls" can smirk and laugh at some of us who want to play a unproven commodity. Or, you can do some research on LaStella and realize that he just might be exactly what the Braves need. With the way the developmental staff of the Braves has hit a homerun the last five years, I'm willing to take another risk.

Just remember, going up against some quality arms in the AFL he has 10 walks and no strikeouts. That isn't a typo.
 
Tapate50 said:
Good one. I laughed hard.
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So let me get this straight. You would trade Uggla and a top prospect for a declining Phillips that would end up costing us an additional $25MM over the next four years, when you have a 2nd baseman who has hit very well and had a high OBP at every level he has ever played that would cost us next to nothing over those four years. We could then use that $25MM to improve our club elsewhere. Sure glad your not our GM.
 
thethe said:
There is no way you can justify bringing aboard as 32 year old declining player on that contract.

We are going back to the ridiculous notion of not trusting young players. EVERY MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER WAS AT ONE POINT A MINOR LEAGUER! Let that sink in for a second.....

Ok, now on to LaStella. He has two main positives:

1) He is cheap which is what the Braves need because its time to start locking up the core
2) He is the exact opposite of what most of the hitters are on that team and that is a contact hitter who doesn't strike out

So, all of the "know it alls" can smirk and laugh at some of us who want to play a unproven commodity. Or, you can do some research on LaStella and realize that he just might be exactly what the Braves need. With the way the developmental staff of the Braves has hit a homerun the last five years, I'm willing to take another risk.

Just remember, going up against some quality arms in the AFL he has 10 walks and no strikeouts. That isn't a typo.
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Very well said.
 
Even ignoring Tommy, I'd rather have Uggla at 2B the next 2 years. I'd have more faith in him turning it aruodn than Phillips outperforming whoever we lose to FA because of acquiring him.
 
zitothebrave said:
Even ignoring Tommy, I'd rather have Uggla at 2B the next 2 years. I'd have more faith in him turning it aruodn than Phillips outperforming whoever we lose to FA because of acquiring him.
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A mid market team can only win by getting production from their farm system. Bottom line.
 
I say we make him go work at a *** strip club and donate whatever he makes back to the team. That will probably save more money than the team would get through a trade.
 
zitothebrave said:
Why because I'd rather not handicap my team long term with an obviously bad contract? Phillips probably makes us better next year, maybe the following year, but who do you prefer, Phillips or one of Justin, Jason, Freddie, Kimbrel, Minor, or Medlen because one of those guys will have to be let go for sure who may be able to be kept around because of keeping Phillips. I'd take everyone of those guys over Phillips every day and twice on Sunday.
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The idea is to get rid of Uggla. He is virtually untradeable without eating 18-20M Even DOB acknowledges this. If you bring up La Stella, you still have a 13.5M 2nd baseman. Phillips declined a very small bit this year. Was he in a snit? Who teh hell knows. But he has trended up the previous 3/4 years while Uggla has tanked over the same 3/4 years. So what if we have to dump Phillips in 16 and 17, its not worse than eating Ugglas money now. And you dont know who will or will not be kept around in 3 years. No one, not even Wren knows with this team.

And the last thing in the world I want to be is confrontational but to thethe's post following yours. Do people ever get tired of living in a prospects jock and reading box scores. If La Stella is the next coming, Im sure the front office knows what he can and cant do. Much better than posters.
 
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