Atlanta Acquires Dan Uggla

Uggla should fit in with ATL

The first trade of the GM Meetings is official as power-hitting second-baseman Dan Uggla goes from the Florida Marlins to the Atlanta Braves.  In return Florida gets 2010 All-Star infielder Omar Infante and young reliever Michael Dunn.  Uggla spent his entire 5-year career in Florida, and goes to division-rival Atlanta with 154 HR in that same span.  Last year Dan hit .287 with 33 HR and 105 RBI, so the Braves definitely got a middle of the order masher on their hands.  Infante is a utility player who can play all 7 infield/outfield spots, and his versatility is even more intriguing when you consider he hit .321 on the year with a couple home-runs and stolen-bases sprinkled in.  Omar is a contact hitter who the Marlins can slot anywhere on defense without losing a step, making him a manager's best friend.  As for Dunn, the 25-year old had a pleasant minor-league campaign (3.39 career ERA in his minors career) and pitched in 19 innings for the 2010 Braves.  He posted a 1.89 ERA with 27 K in those innings, so he is definitely a lockdown lefty.  Very even deal, as the Braves get a middle of the order bat who is about to get expensive (He turned down a 4-year/$48M deal with the Marlins and is entering his last year of arbitration) and the Marlins get a ultra-utility player who is coming off an All-star campaign and a reliever who should blossom in the Fish's pen.

Ramblings: Blum, Blue Jays

Blum moves to Arizona


• The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed infielder Geoff Blum to a 2-year deal worth about $2M.  Isn't a very good signing considering Blum is 37 soon to be 38 and hit .267 with 2 HR and 22 RBI in over 90 games.  Not a good start for new general manager Kevin Towers.
• It is thought to be the Toronto Blue Jays who are the favorite to land second-baseman Dan Uggla.  Toronto has made it clear that both current second-baseman Aaron Hill and outfielder Jose Bautista would shift to third if the Jays acquired a quality player.

Ramblings: Maybin, Kawakami, Uggla

• The San Diego Padres have approached the Florida Marlins about a possible deal for centerfielder Cameron Maybin.  Maybin is a terrific defensive center-fielder (+5.1 UZR in his career) and still is young with tremendous upside.  Florida received Maybin and Andrew Miller (who was traded yesterday) in the blockbuster trade for Miguel Cabrera a couple years ago.
• The Atlanta Braves have sent right-hander Kenshin Kawakami down to Double-A.  Kawakami put up a 5.15 ERA last year, and has now been demoted and removed from the 40-man roster.  Atlanta still owes him over $6.5M for next year.
• The Florida Marlins have broken off talks with second-baseman Dan Uggla, and a trade might be imminent.  Uggla would be a premiere bat on the market, and teams such as the Tigers have already said that they are interested in the powerful player.

Dan Uggla turns down 4-year/$48M Deal

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that Florida Marlins second-baseman Dan Uggla turned down a 4-year, $48M deal extension offered by the Marlins.  Uggla wants a 5-year pact, but in all honesty $12M seems like quite a bit for his services.  Not to mention the fact that the Marlins are usually quite tight with their finances.  Uggla should have taken the offer while it was there.