Who can (will) the Marlins get for Uggla?
by FishHead on Jan 21, 2009 7:07 PM EST
16 comments
What would your team give up for Dan Uggla? Marlins of course will be looking for cheap young pitching?
Uggla's agent speaks about the future
> Posted by Mike Berardino at 9:39:09 PM
Just had an interesting (and slightly disturbing) conversation with Jeff Borris, the agent for Dan Uggla.
I already had the salary requests for Uggla ($5.35M) and the Marlins ($4.4M) in their upcoming arbitration battle, so I asked him if there had been any last-minute talk of a multiyear deal for a two-time All-Star with 90 home runs the past three years.
"The Marlins are not interested in signing Daniel Uggla to a multiyear contract," Borris said. "We always would be open to listen to anything, but they made it very clear to us they were only going to sign Hanley and Hanley alone."
That was a pretty strong statement, so I pressed Borris a bit. I wondered if he had any concerns Uggla might not be with the Marlins on Opening Day, especially if he were to win a judgment that sits nearly a full million higher than what the Fish apparently had budgeted for him.
"I don't know what their motives are," Borris said. "They made it very clear the club will be going in a different direction."
The only question from the Uggla camp seems to be how soon that other shoe drops. With younger, cheaper options such as Emilio Bonifacio and Chris Coghlan in the fold -- and you don't go out and trade two vital cogs like Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen for Bonifacio if you have no intention of playing him at his natural position very soon -- Uggla could be on the trading block this July, if not sooner.
And how about Bonifacio? What does Borris suspect could happen with him?
"His price is right for the Marlins," Borris said.
Ouch.
So how would you feel about Life After Uggla from a Marlins' perspective? Is all this talk about improved defense just a veiled attempt to prepare the fan base for the eventual subtraction of one of the five greatest Rule V finds ever?
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Midway through last year
With Antonelli’s struggles in full effect I had pondered a Blanks (plus more) for Uggla swap. But, Padres budgetary woes and Antonelli’s uptick towards the end made me reconsider.
1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.
by Wonko on Jan 21, 2009 7:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
plus
the Marlins have Morrison, there is no need for Blanks.
by MightyMoose on Jan 22, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
who could use him?
contenders who could use a 2B:
Rays – and they have the prospects to get him.
D’Backs – depending on how Felipe Lopez does
Both Chicago teams – Mike Fotenot and Jason Nix/Lillebridge?
Dodgers
Mets
Cardinals.
That said, the Orioles have been trying to trade Brian Roberts for two years and not gotten what they want, and Orlando Hudson is still a free agent, which drives Ugglas price down.
by Galt on Jan 21, 2009 8:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Rays...
I don’t think the Rays would want him. They have a decently priced 2B right now, and they do have a focus on defense, and Uggla is possibly the worst defensive 2B in the majors.
"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile
by Boxkutter on Jan 21, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd look to a team
like Minnesota as well, that is, a team that can use him at 3rd.
As Boxkutter notes, I think the Rays like Aki Iwamura.
The White Sox probably go with what they have in the upper levels and wait on Gordon Beckham.
The Cubs have to wait until new ownership to add budget, and even then, 2nd base likely isn’t a priority, as 2nd is the one spot in they are decently deep at in the system, with Ryan Flaherty likely to be fast tracked and Junior Lake loaded with tools, amongst others. Furthermore, Cubs probably don’t have enough to make a deal happen.
by toonsterwu on Jan 21, 2009 8:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
His value...
comes from his power at his position. They will get something good because he is one of two secondbaseman with that kind of power. They could probably get a good young pitcher for him. Someone like Jonathon Sanchez from the Giants or a Maz Sherzer from the D-Backs.
by joegonzo on Jan 21, 2009 9:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Scherzer is encouraging
You really think they can get him? I hope so. I just dont see too many teams parting with big time major league ready prospects for him (or anyone else for that matter). What makes it difficult to predict is just 3 or 4 years ago people would have traded more for a proven 2nd baseman with uggla’s power. But there has been a major hault on the trading of prospects. Dbacks got Dunn for nothing. The indians did not get a ransom for CC. In order to get a stud prospect these days you either have to trade a superstar(CC) or trade for a guy in the low minors (neftali feliz)
by FishHead on Jan 21, 2009 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Giants idea makes sense.
They seem willing to trade Sanchez and they need all kinds of bats.
by aap212 on Jan 22, 2009 12:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I do not believe a word out of Borris' mouth
It really does come down to the reality that no team who “values” defense would consider him an option at second. As such see no team willing to make a deal thinking he is 2B option. Now the real question which do not think anyone can awnser is can he play 3B? If he can play league average 3B then he has value in a trade, but without him proving it Marlins are not going to get decent value at all they are going to get Mike Jacobs (1B value).
by novaoakland on Jan 21, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cincinnati's a possibility
The Reds need a righty power bat, and could try to make a deal for Uggla. Of course, that would mean the Reds would actually try to switch guys’ positions, either by moving Encarnacion to LF and Uggla to 3B (or perhaps Uggla to the OF, though that seems more unlikely) or by moving Phillips to SS. And I don’t think the Reds are sharp enough to do that.
by Geki on Jan 21, 2009 11:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oakland?
In case Chavvy, Ellis go down?
"I think people in this state like BOTH teams," proclaims Nick Aliotti, the Ducks' defensive coordinator. "Except for our hard-core fans, I don't think most Duck fans would have been terribly upset to see Oregon State going to the Rose Bowl."
Another reason he needs to go.
by diehardoaklandfan22 on Jan 22, 2009 12:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Angels?
I heard rumors earlier in the year that the Angels might be in the mix for Uggla if they couldn’t land Texikara. Maybe Brandon Wood for Dan Uggla?
by demondeaconsbaseball on Jan 22, 2009 1:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wood can put up Uggla numbers
maybe better. And he is cheaper.
by vivaelpujols on Jan 22, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
hehe
Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.
by doublestix on Jan 22, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Mets would love him
But they’re stuck with Castillo’s contract and aren’t exactly overflowing with prospects.
by Locke000 on Jan 22, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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