Posted September 17, 200915 yr ST. LOUIS -- Dan Uggla is close to becoming the first Marlins player to hit 30 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons. Uggla is one home run away. But he also is close to perhaps playing his final game with the team. ``I kind of thought about it the other day,'' Uggla said. ``You get kind of sad because this is the team that gave me my first shot in the big leagues, and I made a lot of friends here.'' Uggla is as cognizant as anyone that he might become too pricey for the Marlins to keep in 2010, when his salary could go as high as $8 million through salary arbitration. As such, there's a good chance the Marlins will trade him and fill his spot at second base with either Chris Coghlan or Emilio Bonifacio. If the Marlins decide to deal Uggla, finding a trading partner shouldn't be too difficult. Outside of Uggla, only two other players whose primary position was second base -- Ryne Sandberg and Alfonso Soriano -- have hit as many as 25 home runs in four consecutive seasons. And Uggla has shown consistent power in the post-steroids era. ``It's funny, because when I'm at a visiting stadium, you hear some people say `Get off the juice,' '' Uggla said. ``But I didn't play in that era. I guess it's just because of how I'm built.'' Uggla hit 27 home runs as a rookie in 2006, 31 in 2007, 32 in 2008, and hit his 29th of the season Tuesday -- a two-run shot that gave the Marlins a 2-1 win over the Cardinals. It might have been one of his last long balls as a Marlin. ``We'll have to wait and see,'' he said of his future. ``I kind of don't like to think about it.'' http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/florida-marlins/story/1237289.html
September 17, 200915 yr Personally, I think buying out his remaining arb years at some reasonable number would not be the worst decision the team could make as Uggla clearly has and is lobbying for one and undoubtably would take security over $$$ to get a deal done so long as it doesn't become personal. None of which keeps the Marlins from trading him as result of same and in fact could make him more valuable as a trade candidate when the time is right for the team with a fixed price in hand.
September 17, 200915 yr I would hate to see him go but certainly understand the Marlins need to manage a budget. I hate losing his power, but maybe they can replace it in the new rightfielder it appears they will also be getting. As much as I'm not a fan of Bonifacio, it wouldn't kill me to see him at 2b and keep Coghlan in LF.
September 17, 200915 yr I would hate to see him go but certainly understand the Marlins need to manage a budget. I hate losing his power, but maybe they can replace it in the new rightfielder it appears they will also be getting. As much as I'm not a fan of Bonifacio, it wouldn't kill me to see him at 2b and keep Coghlan in LF. it would kill me to have boni at 2b. He is not a mlb starter.
September 17, 200915 yr Yeah, I think we're seeing his last few games in a Marlins uniform at this point.
September 17, 200915 yr I would hate to see him go but certainly understand the Marlins need to manage a budget. I hate losing his power, but maybe they can replace it in the new rightfielder it appears they will also be getting. As much as I'm not a fan of Bonifacio, it wouldn't kill me to see him at 2b and keep Coghlan in LF. it would kill me to have boni at 2b. He is not a mlb starter. Not if he becomes more like Michael Bourn.....
September 17, 200915 yr Personally, I think buying out his remaining arb years at some reasonable number would not be the worst decision the team could make as Uggla clearly has and is lobbying for one and undoubtably would take security over $$$ to get a deal done so long as it doesn't become personal. None of which keeps the Marlins from trading him as result of same and in fact could make him more valuable as a trade candidate when the time is right for the team with a fixed price in hand. Well let's think about this. Uggla is guaranteed $8 million in arbitration. The comps are there. There is no way he can really get higher save for hitting 10 jacks the last two weeks. He can't really get lower as his career path is what it is. So the Marlins have very limited bargaining power for 2010. We're talking $500,000 at most here. So if we're looking to buy out "the arbitration years," we're looking at 2011. Utley is going to make $11 + unidentified percentage of signing bonus. Assuming a repeat of Uggla, he'll get slotted relatively the same. What's the risk to Dan? If he sucks, he'll probably get $10, if he's normal $11, if he's awesome and has another .874 OPS year $12. So 'lowballing' a contract to give him security...... You'd have to offer him 2/$16 (7-9) and see if he bites, more than likely have to up that to 2/$18 (8-10). I don't see the real purpose of this kind of contract. Two years really does nothing for trying to get him cheap, or making him more attractive as a suitor. Uggla is who he is at this point. This isn't a Teixeira or Howard who are going to get record setting arbitration's. This is Uggla. Who is in that in between place between above average and star, making him "safe" and "predictable" when it comes to arbitration despite how high the numbers are. If you want to tac on say, two club options so the contract looks like this 2010 - $ 8 million 2011 - $10 million 2012 - $11 million ($1 buyout), and we'll add PA incentives making this a player option if Uggla gets 1200 combined PA 11/12 or something 2013 - $12 million ($1 buyout) You're looking at 2/$19 3/$30 4/$41 That looks right to me. Getting Uggla for a few years makes him attractive. Getting him for just 2011.... not really.
September 17, 200915 yr What power will the team have? Especially how Hanley is spraying the ball all over and not over the fence. (which isn't a bad thing) Off the top of the head, who is close to 30hrs? Who else is in the 20s? Hanley? Cody? Anyone else? Mike Jacobs vacancy made a significant loss of power, imagine Uggla too. Unless they bring in some power bats somewhere else.
September 17, 200915 yr Am I wrong that he isn't a free agent until after the 2012 season? I know I read that this morning before posting above in this thread (because I agree buying out two years is really meaningless), not thinking the site I used could be wrong.
September 17, 200915 yr Aww, I have a sad for Uggla. I'm probably reading too much into it, but it is sort of nice to hear a guy who sounds like he doesn't want to go play elswhere. I'm not insinuating he'd take a discount to stick around, I don't think that's the case. But so many guys leave on bad terms it seems... here's a guy who seems to actually like playing for this organization. And it is sort of cool that the Marlins were the ones who took a chance on a guy and he wound up being one of the most productive second basemen around while also committing three errors in an all-star game. I mean a guy like that doesn't come around often. And his middle name is Cooley. Just sayin'. All mushy stuff aside I have no idea how they could afford to keep him. So if he must go, it was a nice story here and please don't stay in the NL East.
September 17, 200915 yr I would hate to see him go but certainly understand the Marlins need to manage a budget. I hate losing his power, but maybe they can replace it in the new rightfielder it appears they will also be getting. As much as I'm not a fan of Bonifacio, it wouldn't kill me to see him at 2b and keep Coghlan in LF. it would kill me to have boni at 2b. He is not a mlb starter. Me too. It seems like his best game was the first game of the season. The game where he could not lay a bunt down in the 9th a couple weeks ago lost it for me. As a speedster not being able to bunt makes you almost useless on the offensive end. Like everyone else says if we lose Uggla we will need something to come from somewhere to replace it and his name is not Bonifacio.
September 17, 200915 yr Am I wrong that he isn't a free agent until after the 2012 season? I know I read that this morning before posting above in this thread (because I agree buying out two years is really meaningless), not thinking the site I used could be wrong. Yes, unfortunately. You don't use Cot's? http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005_01_19_mlbcontracts_archive.html Dan Uggla 2b 1 year/$5.35M (2009) 1 year/$5.35M (2009)won arbitration with Florida 2/12/09 ($5.35M-$4.4M) [*]1 year/$0.417M (2008)renewed by Florida 3/2/08 [*]1 year/$0.392M (2007)renewed by Florida 3/07 [*]1 year/$0.327M (2006)re-signed by Florida 2/06 [*]selected by Florida from Arizona in Rule 5 draft 12/05 [*]drafted 2001 (11-338) [*]agent: Jeff Borris [*]ML service: 3.000
September 17, 200915 yr That's the main problem with losing Uggla for next season: we don't have a power replacement. Last year we dumped Willingham and Jacobs, and we saw a decline in our HRs this year. If we dump Uggla as well, that's 30 less HRs and 90 or so less RBIs. That has to be made up somehow, and I'm not seeing where it would come from. It doesn't matter if either Bonifacio (God no) or Coghlan plays second in 2010, neither has much power (Bonifacio with basically none). I also don't see anyone ready to go for 2010 who can even make up 20 of those HRs. Morrison isn't quite ready yet, and neither is Stanton. Those are really the two hitters we have closest to the majors who are expected to be impact players. I think we're looking at 2011 before they get significant play time. I mean, here's a possible lineup for next season: C: Baker, maybe resigning Paulino if he's still cheap 1B: Probably Cantu, but it's uncertain. Could also be Nick Johnson if the FO is willing to keep him onboard. 2B: Bonifacio/Coghlan SS: Hanley 3B: No idea, maybe Cantu? RF: Cody CF: Maybin LF: Carroll? Coghlan? Bench: Helms, Andy Gonzalez, Brett Hayes?, Gaby Sanchez are all likely, possibly also someone like Raynor But basically there are a lot of questions for 2010.
September 17, 200915 yr Author I would love to sign Uggla long term. We can NOT lose his power. This is what I would like to see for our 2010 lineup C- Baker/Paulino 1B- Cantu 2B- Coghlan SS- Hanley 3B - Uggla LF - Ross CF - Maybin RF - platoon of Carroll/Peterson/Cousins
September 17, 200915 yr I was the first guy to introduce Cot's to the mb.com. Yeah, it was either you or someone else that presented Coghlan to us at the beginning of the 2008 season as the "good hitter, average plate discipline, low power, terrible terrible defensive player". All I remember from all the reports was the Coghlan was terribad at 2B, just goes to show how sometimes scouts are dumbshits in evaluating players.
September 17, 200915 yr Sign Uggla long term and trade a package of Cantu/Hermida/Sanchez for a outfield prospect and another prospect.Call up Logan Morrison to take over 1st base.
September 17, 200915 yr I was the first guy to introduce Cot's to the mb.com. Yeah, it was either you or someone else that presented Coghlan to us at the beginning of the 2008 season as the "good hitter, average plate discipline, low power, terrible terrible defensive player". All I remember from all the reports was the Coghlan was terribad at 2B, just goes to show how sometimes scouts are dumbshits in evaluating players. All I heard was he was an average defensive second baseman with an ability to get on base at a good percentage.
September 17, 200915 yr Is it safe to say that Uggla has been one of the most important Marlins in team history? Where would we have been at 2nd base the last 4 years without Uggla? This might be the luckiest find in team history.
September 17, 200915 yr I was the first guy to introduce Cot's to the mb.com. Yeah, it was either you or someone else that presented Coghlan to us at the beginning of the 2008 season as the "good hitter, average plate discipline, low power, terrible terrible defensive player". All I remember from all the reports was the Coghlan was terribad at 2B, just goes to show how sometimes scouts are dumbshits in evaluating players. I don't get this post. We haven't even seen Coghlan play second base, so why are you already calling the scouts idiots?
September 17, 200915 yr I was the first guy to introduce Cot's to the mb.com. Yeah, it was either you or someone else that presented Coghlan to us at the beginning of the 2008 season as the "good hitter, average plate discipline, low power, terrible terrible defensive player". All I remember from all the reports was the Coghlan was terribad at 2B, just goes to show how sometimes scouts are dumbshits in evaluating players. I don't get this post. We haven't even seen Coghlan play second base, so why are you already calling the scouts idiots? There were scouts that mentioned Coghlan played every position below average defensively, but I think its safe to say without even watching Coghlan play at 2B that they were idiots.
September 17, 200915 yr Still not sure what that has to do with Cot's website, which is an excellent website? Also not sure if I misunderstood 03's tone, but it sounded a bit nasty toward me, so I don't get that either? Ah, confusion reigns....
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