I know there have been recent talks about signing him to a longterm deal, and Im not entirely opposed to that, but I have some reservations. For one I think hes an ok defensive player but he doesnt have great range and he struggles in turning double plays. Our defense is abysmal to begin with and I think we desparately need an upgrade in that department. Uggla, while not horrible like cantu, is still in my mind a below average 2nd baseman. Is there any way he can play another position like 3rd? Or does he lack the arm? If we could honestly move him from 2nd to somewhere else, id feel alot better of signing him longterm.

 

My second reservation has more to do from an organizational point of view. Given that the FO is real cheap and likes to spends its money wisely, is it really wise to spend this money on resigning Uggla? I like Uggla and like his production but its not like what he does is so spectacular that it cant be replaced. hes a 30 HR, 90 RBI guy who will have an OBP of 350-360 or so and K about 120-150 times a year. Given that we tend to be cheap would it not be better to spend the money we are going to spend on Uggla on some other area of need? I mean we could certainly use a veteran hitter and a decent closer or setup guy or lefty out of the pen. These areas strike me as much more pressing than retaining Ugglas power given that we already have Stanton up and by all accounts hes gonna hit a ton of homers.

 

If I had faith our organization would spend money elsewhere on FA's as well, and would be willing to resign Uggla, Id feel better about the movie. But if the organzation continues to just extend current roster guys, and spend nothing on FA's then I feel this team will continue to be where it is into the forseeable future.

 

I wouldnt mind trading Uggla if we could get something in the way of top pitching prospects or MLB ready pitchers and some veteran hitters. He has value, unlike cantu, helms and even ross. We could also use the money we save from Uggla on some FA's in the offseason.

Loria loves him and wants to lock him up now. Not happening. Although if the Marlins get a wow deal, I read it can happen.

 

I never look up 2B in the league, but peeps ALWAYS say you can't replace his power. And the fact he is only MLB 2B in history to have 3 straight 30 homer seasons, on the verge of making it 4...yeah, keep him.

Only if they get an offer they CAN'T refuse....otherwise....

I'd also like to bring up the issue of bad PR on the marlins if they do such a thing. Trading Uggla would add fuel to the "FIRESALE AHHHH" mentality that so many south floridans have about the team. If you ship off a fan favorite...then I'd think the absolute casual fan woul have trouble rooting fir the fish.

I like Uggla and like his production but its not like what he does is so spectacular that it cant be replaced. hes a 30 HR, 90 RBI guy who will have an OBP of 350-360 or so and K about 120-150 times a year.

 

You don't think that's special? There are only 4 second basemen in baseball on pace for a .350 OBP and 30 HR on the season. Robinson Cano, Kelly Johnson, Rickie Weeks, and Dan Uggla. Only 2 second basemen since 2008 have done it, Uggla twice and Utley twice. That's not spectacular?

 

 

EDIT: Just one last thing. 10 2B in baseball history have done that. 6 guys have done it twice. If Uggla does it this year for a 3rd, it will be him, Utley, Kent, and Hornsby. HOF's Sandberg and Gordon only did it twice and once respectively. Now, I understand part of this is that the position has changed, but to dismiss it is just silly.

Its either overpay, or you aren't getting him

 

 

Yup.

 

And I think that Dan is so thankful that we rescued him from the D-Backs' minor-league scrap-heap via Rule 5 that he'll sign a somewhat or perhaps even majorly under-market-price deal to stay HERE. As he apparently said about a multi-year deal with the Marlins, "that would make me a very happy man." His agent would probably prefer that he keep his mouth shut.

 

That was an expression on his part that he wants to stay with the group of guys he broke in and matured with as an MLB player, and that the money isn't that important. And why should it be? He's already, right now, set for life if he never plays another game. Who cares whether you get 6 or 8 or 10 million a year from here on out, when if you weren't playing baseball you'd be hard pressed to convince an employer that you were worth 50K a year? He's gonna earn at least 50 million over his career even if he plays here at a discount. The guy is living out something that's way, way, way beyond even his wildest dreams.

Folks, It's a SMOKESCREEN.. By the FO saying Uggla is unavailable due to the intention of signing him to a long tern contract IT DRIVES UP his price on the trade market... Beinfest is good at making trades for a reason!!!

Connect the dots and see more than what's in front of you...

It just doesn't seem feasible to trade Uggla at this time, few 2b's in the game hit like he does and I have a hunch that his K's will come down some with a different batting coach.

It's a SMOKESCREEN

 

:lol

 

Trades aren't done based on PR. Beinfest, et al couldn't care less what you or anyone else thinks. Only after they're done does the public find out what happened, and very rarely exactly why it happened.

 

Or, more likely, you're just trolling?

It just doesn't seem feasible to trade Uggla at this time, few 2b's in the game hit like he does and I have a hunch that his K's will come down some with a different batting coach.

 

Agree with you that he hits very well for a 2B and his Ks coming down.. But this is why other teams will be interested in him..

Folks, It's a SMOKESCREEN.. By the FO saying Uggla is unavailable due to the intention of signing him to a long tern contract IT DRIVES UP his price on the trade market... Beinfest is good at making trades for a reason!!!

Connect the dots and see more than what's in front of you...

 

You're connecting dots that don't exist.

Uggla has more of a value then some people actually realize ... Its really sad when its own fans dont see it either....:banghead

you dont trade a 2b with his type of production. plain and simple. especially when you dont have anybody to replace him.

Folks, It's a SMOKESCREEN.. By the FO saying Uggla is unavailable due to the intention of signing him to a long tern contract IT DRIVES UP his price on the trade market... Beinfest is good at making trades for a reason!!!

Connect the dots and see more than what's in front of you...

 

 

 

Wow! I never thought of it that way. It certainly does make sense!!!!!

So far he's been the best player this year alongside Gaby. Every year, I believe, he has lowered his. K's and gotten more walks. He has had 30 hr seasons in all but his rrokie year when he had 27.

The guy has improved year in and year out and thats what you want from your players.

I think he is the player on this team that deserves a multi year deal the most.

If you trade Uggla you won't replace him with another Power hitting 2b and on a team where the future is playing out to have non power hitters playing in power positions ( Morrison, Coghlan, Gaby, Dominguez??) you have to find a way to sign Uggla longterm.

Hell, if the yankees offered Mariano rivera for uggla i dont think that would help the team.

Marlins care about making money, first and foremost.

 

They think they need Uggla to get fans into the new ballpark.

 

And I think that they are correct.

For whatever reason he seems to be a better hitter this year, with his batting average not far off .280 compared to seeing him down around .240 and .250 in past seasons. And importantly, he has maintained his power which is his greatest asset.

had a little conversation with Joe Frisaro via twitter last night...

 

ME: @JoeFrisaro i hate to say this because i don't want him to go but has Uggla's trade value ever been higher?

Joe: @Me he's going to sign a multiyear deal. Why do you want to trade him? JJ's trade value has never been higher. trade him? ~!

ME: @JoeFrisaro i was just giving some food for thought since his name was 'on the block.' but .275 25+hr 25+doubles RBIs? yes please

Joe: @Me ~ never on the block, meaning since Spring Training. Yes, last Dec he was

For whatever reason he seems to be a better hitter this year, with his batting average not far off .280 compared to seeing him down around .240 and .250 in past seasons. And importantly, he has maintained his power which is his greatest asset.

 

 

It also seems as if he's walking a ton more. He's really been solid this year.

Im dont really buy the whole " you cant replace his type of power for a 2nd baseman" argument. if he was at 3rd base what would u say then about him? if u let him go and add some more power with a veteran at 3rd or even 1st then his power production can be accounted for. The position he plays is irrelevant. Its where he hits in the lineup. Its nice that hes a second baseman with power, but if we can get that production at some of the other positions than again it doesnt matter what position he plays. Im not bashing the idea of keeping him, I just dont like that argument at all. (If you tell me that Gaby Sanchez has limited power and it will be difficult to make up for his production through signing a veteran at 3rd or for the outfield than I view that as a legit argument)

 

besides defensively hes not a good second baseman either as he struggles turning double plays and has very limited range. we already have above average power at SS and Mike Stanton has plenty of it as well. If we are overspending on Uggla and in lieu of spending money on another starter, bullpen help or a veteran hitter then I have a problem with extending him If we are gonna spend money AND resign Uggla longterm than Im all for that as I think hes an excellent 5 or 6 hitter who will afford Stanton protection. (I just wish we would find him another position).

Im dont really buy the whole " you cant replace his type of power for a 2nd baseman" argument. if he was at 3rd base what would u say then about him? if u let him go and add some more power with a veteran at 3rd or even 1st then his power production can be accounted for. The position he plays is irrelevant. Its where he hits in the lineup. Its nice that hes a second baseman with power, but if we can get that production at some of the other positions than again it doesnt matter what position he plays. Im not bashing the idea of keeping him, I just dont like that argument at all. (If you tell me that Gaby Sanchez has limited power and it will be difficult to make up for his production through signing a veteran at 3rd or for the outfield than I view that as a legit argument)

 

besides defensively hes not a good second baseman either as he struggles turning double plays and has very limited range. we already have above average power at SS and Mike Stanton has plenty of it as well. If we are overspending on Uggla and in lieu of spending money on another starter, bullpen help or a veteran hitter then I have a problem with extending him If we are gonna spend money AND resign Uggla longterm than Im all for that as I think hes an excellent 5 or 6 hitter who will afford Stanton protection. (I just wish we would find him another position).

 

 

You want to be as good at you can at every position. Dan Uggla is easily one of the league's best at his position. On top of that, you can't just go out and replace his power easily, no matter what position he plays. There is only one player in our system who has more power potential than Uggla, and that is Mike Stanton. It's not just a case of position scarcity, its the fact that regardless of position he's a very good offensive player, and that he plays second base doubles his value.

 

If you get rid of Uggla, you get rid of a bat that you won't even easily be able to find at any position. Uggla could easily exceed 35 homers this year, and that would cost a lot of money on the open market at any position.

 

He's no gold glover, but neither is Hanley Ramirez. Still his defense outside of AS games is far from embarrassing. Besides, why overpay for a guy who is unfamiliar with this organization and its fanbase when you can lock up a guy who is a fan favorite and one of the most significant players in franchise history. In baseball-only terms a deal makes sense, but taking into account other factors that this organization needs to take into account with a new stadium on the way, this makes even more sense. Plus, not just shipping out or letting walk a marquee player because we refuse to pay will do a lot to improve the franchise's image in the eyes of the league.

And his name is DANNNN UGGLAAAA!!!

 

You gotta love that.

Its either overpay, or you aren't getting him

 

 

Yup.

 

And I think that Dan is so thankful that we rescued him from the D-Backs' minor-league scrap-heap via Rule 5 that he'll sign a somewhat or perhaps even majorly under-market-price deal to stay HERE. As he apparently said about a multi-year deal with the Marlins, "that would make me a very happy man." His agent would probably prefer that he keep his mouth shut.

 

That was an expression on his part that he wants to stay with the group of guys he broke in and matured with as an MLB player, and that the money isn't that important. And why should it be? He's already, right now, set for life if he never plays another game. Who cares whether you get 6 or 8 or 10 million a year from here on out, when if you weren't playing baseball you'd be hard pressed to convince an employer that you were worth 50K a year? He's gonna earn at least 50 million over his career even if he plays here at a discount. The guy is living out something that's way, way, way beyond even his wildest dreams.

 

 

If you are blown away by an offer, yeah, you gotta do it, however...

 

I think we should keep Uggla. He, along with Hanley, are the big offensive guys on the team. Uggla can be a marquee guy alongside Hanley. (Marquee in the sense of being big outside of Florida. Uggla has flirted with that off and on, unfortunately, not always in a positive light, i.e. the ASG). And more importantly, being a potential marquee player, he has been and will continue to be a leader in the clubhouse. I thing Uggla's role back there, behind closed doors, is very valuable. It doesn't look like Hanley wants to lead, at least not in a consistent way, so we need a guy who can say the right things, act the right way, call people out and be THE guy on the team. I think you need a mix of veterans from the outside coming in and homegrown, longtime playing on the club players to fight any chaos that may break out.

 

Is it really that important to have Uggla around for something that is unmeasurable like "leadership?" i think so, though I don't think that means you should overpay him or hold onto him for dear life. I just have a little fear that if Hanley is the only Big Kahuna on the team, we will get more "Hanley being Hanley" (which is rare, but does occur) plus we might get other young guys in here and they see Hanley's actions and without someone like Uggla (someone used to the Marlins system, a starter, etc.) around, we might get some more incidents.

They will keep Uggla because with LoMo an every day play in a power position you need power in a non-traditional power position to make up for LoMo's lack of it.