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Dan Uggla

Marlins Intend To Trade Uggla

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After breaking off extension talks and gauging interest in their second baseman, the Marlins now plan to trade Dan Uggla, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Marlins are "down the road" in discussions with a few teams and could make a deal within the next week, according to Rosenthal's source. Rosenthal identifies the Nationals, Tigers, Braves, and Blue Jays as potential suitors who are in on the 30-year-old.

When Rosenthal ran down the list of teams who could have interest in Uggla, he noted that not every club would view the Marlin as a second baseman. Many teams with question marks at third base are considering making a play for Uggla. Meanwhile, Rosenthal indicates the Cubs and Angels are among the teams who don't have interest in acquiring Uggla, despite having a need for offense.

Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post believes that Uggla and the Marlins could still agree on an extension, but concedes that the two sides are currently "very bitter at each other." He expects Florida to actively shop Uggla at this week's GM meetings, though he suggests the team will be demanding a significant return (all Twitter links).

Marlins Measuring Trade Interest In Dan Uggla

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The Marlins broke off contract talks with Dan Uggla and are now gauging potential trade interest in their second baseman according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. A source says the team is not confident they can sign Uggla long-term after he rejected a four-year contract that would have paid him $48MM.

Frisaro says the team has been "initiating and field calls" about the 30-year-old Uggla, and two unidentified National League clubs have expressed interest in addition to the Tigers. He adds that the Marlins have been asking for relief pitching return, and they're expected to have more discussions about Uggla at next week's General Manager Meetings. In his middle infielder buyer's guide at ESPN (Insider req'd), Keith Law said he'd "love to trade for one year of Uggla, especially a walk year, but I don't want to be on the hook for his age 34 or 35 seasons, by which point his defense will probably have moved him off second base."

Uggla is arbitration eligible for the final time this offseason, and will become a free agent after the 2011 season. He is likely to see his salary climb past $10MM after earning $7.8MM this year. Uggla is a .263/.349/.488 career hitter, clubbing no fewer than 27 homers in each of his five seasons as a big leaguer. He is one of just nine players to eclipse the 30-homer plateau in each of the last four years.

Marlins Break Off Uggla Extension Talks; Tigers Interested

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The Marlins have ceased negotiations with Dan Uggla about a long-term contract, the second baseman told The Associated Press.  Uggla said he and his representatives still want to negotiate, but the club has broken off talks for the time being. 

It's possible the Marlins are simply going back to the drawing board to create a new offer after Uggla turned down their four-year, $48MM proposal last weekend.  Or, perhaps the club is taking time to once again look at its trade options with regards to the slugger.  Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com report that the Tigers have contacted Florida about Uggla.  Though Detroit's primary need is for a left-handed batter, the right-handed hitting Uggla provides a big upgrade over the Tigers' current second base options of Scott Sizemore and Will Rhymes. 

Morosi and Rosenthal report the Tigers are "looking everywhere for a power bat."  Detroit could revisit trying to acquire Adam Dunn after exploring a deal for him at the trade deadline, though the club's main offseason priority is Victor Martinez.

Renteria Wants To Retire With Cardinals Or Marlins

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One way or another, Edgar Renteria wants to bring his career full circle and return to the site of his postseason heroics. Few other players could say this and still keep their options open, but Renteria has some choices. Changing course from a recent statement that he would prefer to return to the Giants, Renteria told reporters in his hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia yesterday that he would like to retire playing either for the Cardinals or the Marlins (link in Spanish).

Over the course of nearly an hour of questioning, Renteria explained that he had been undecided about retirement following the World Series, so he sought the opinions of the baseball minds he admired most. "God sent me a message through the MVP, and I don't know if he did it so that I would retire or so that I would keep going," Renteria said. "In any case, I spoke with important baseball people like Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox, and Manny Mota, and they suggested that I continue, and I'm motivated."

Renteria reiterated that he is willing to play second base as well as shortstop, though even after his down 2009 campaign, the 35-year-old stands out as a feasible backup and occasional starter on both sides of the bag. Both the Cardinals and the Marlins have their 2009 and 2010 starting middle infields under contract for 2011, though the Cardinal duo of Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan customarily leave more opportunities for spot-starts and substitutions than the Marlins' steady Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez. Though the Marlins aren't a fit for Renteria now, a spot could open up if they are unable to reach an agreement with Uggla and explore trading the second baseman.

Uggla Believes A Deal Can Be Reached

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Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla told reporters today that he believes that he and the Marlins can close the gap in their extension talks, writes Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post.  The veteran is entering his final year of arbitration where he can expect to earn $10MM or more.  Uggla indicated that he is upset that the details of his contract talks have leaked to the press.

On Sunday we learned that the 30-year-old turned down a four-year, $48MM proposal from the Fish.  While the extension offer did not satisfy the second baseman, it does mark a significant jump from the three-year, $24MM deal that Florida offered back in September.

Uggla's representation was said to be seeking $58MM over five seasons but the slugger's belief that the gap between the two sides is "bridgeable" may indicate that a compromise is forthcoming.

Rosenthal On A’s, Westbrook, Uribe, Soriano

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You’ve heard by now that the A’s acquired David DeJesus, but he was far from the only bat they considered trading for. GM Billy Beane was after Josh Willingham and considered making a deal for Dan Uggla, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The A’s probably aren’t done adding offense. Beane told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he’d still like to make an upgrade or two (Twitter link). Here are the rest of Rosenthal’s rumors.

  • The Red Sox aren’t likely to offer Adrian Beltre a five-year deal.
  • The Cardinals are still in contact with Jake Westbrook, but they would prefer to reach a two-year deal and Westbrook might be able to get three years from another club, so talks appear to be losing momentum.
  • Orlando Cabrera and Juan Uribe are already drawing more interest than they did at this time last year, according to Rosenthal.
  • The White Sox are checking in on Rafael Soriano and, as Rosenthal points out, that’s yet another sign that they’re open to trading or non-tendering Bobby Jenks.

Stark On Greinke, Jeter, Phillies, Uggla

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It's looking more and more likely that MLB will add a second wild card team to each league, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. He also has the latest rumblings from around the league; here they are:

  • Clubs that have spoken to the Royals say Kansas City would only accept a bunch of front-line players for Zack Greinke. One of those players must be a pitcher with a Greinke-like ceiling, so GM Dayton Moore expects a lot for his ace.
  • Clubs that have checked in with the Royals believe Greinke would veto a deal to any major market East Coast team. However, one official says the pitcher “would at least think about the L.A. clubs.”
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post recently suggested that the Yankees make Derek Jeter a Yankee for life with a 25-year contract that would keep him involved in the organization once his playing days end, but Stark hears that Jeter’s next deal will be “a baseball contract. Period.”
  • A Phillies source summed up the chances of Jayson Werth returning to Philadelphia concisely: "No chance. None. Zero.
  • "The Phillies are working aggressively to re-sign Jose Contreras, according to Stark.
  • GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told Stark that he has been working the phones this week. "We've made contact with 40 free agents, predominantly bullpen guys." He said. "Left-handed relief is a priority for us."
  • Teams that have contacted the Marlins about Dan Uggla see definite signs that if extension talks don’t go anywhere, the second baseman could soon become trade bait.

The Marlins’ Offer To Dan Uggla: Part 2

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Back in September, the Marlins offered Dan Uggla a three-year deal “in the range of” $24MM, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Uggla should earn $10MM through arbitration next season after hitting 33 homers and posting a career-best .877 OPS in 2010, so the team’s initial offer seemed inadequate, as I pointed out at the time:

“The Marlins' offer does not appear to be worth taking, but the sides have six months before the 2011 season, so the team's proposal is by no means final.”

The Marlins have since doubled the value of their offer and are now prepared to spend $48MM over four years, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. If we assume Uggla is set for a payday of roughly $10MM in 2011, that means the Marlins are offering nearly $13MM per year for Uggla’s age 32-34 seasons. Those would otherwise be free agent years for the second baseman, who can hit the open market after 2011.

Uggla may be able to earn more than $38MM for his 2012-14 production if he hits free agency instead of signing an extension. But the Marlins are willing to offer the money now. For Uggla to have a shot at a $50MM payday next offseason, he would have to stay healthy and continue hitting 30 homers a year.

Uggla hasn’t accepted the Marlins’ offer and if he still wants the five-year $58MM deal he was reportedly seeking earlier in the fall, he may not accept it. That’s his prerogative, of course, but Florida’s offer now seems fair.

Rosenthal On Uggla, Arroyo, Angels

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Plenty of intriguing new hot stove info from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla rejected a four-year, $48MM extension offer.  Uggla is one season away from free agency, and may prefer to hold off.  SI's Jon Heyman wrote on Thursday that the offer was to pay $8MM in 2011 and that Uggla sought five years.  Assuming Uggla is in line for $10MM or so in arbitration, he must feel he can top what equates to a three-year, $38MM free agent offer.
  • Rosenthal expects the Reds to complete a two-year extension with Bronson Arroyo this week.  Arroyo's 2011 option, which apparently is worth $13MM, was already picked up.  So this new deal would add the '12 and '13 seasons.
  • The Angels may be forced to deal with Scott Boras this offseason, especially if they fail to sign Carl Crawford.  Boras represents potential targets Jayson Werth, Adrian Beltre, and Rafael Soriano.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Gonzalez, Pirates, Elias

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On this date way back in 1976, the Mariners and Blue Jays each selected 30 players in the expansion draft. Seattle drafted outfielder Ruppert Jones from the Royals with the first pick, then Toronto grabbed the versatile Bob Bailor from the Orioles with the second pick. The full results of the expansion draft can be found here.

We had to do some expanding of our own this week – get ready for what I'm certain is the largest BBWI in MLBTR history…

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