By Bill Shanks
FOXSportsSouth.com
November 16, 2010
As reported first by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.com, the Braves have acquired second baseman Dan Uggla from the Florida Marlins for utility man Omar Infante and lefty reliever Mike Dunn.
Uggla fills the need Atlanta had for a right-handed power hitter. He hit 33 home runs and drove in 105 last season for the Marlins. Over his five years in the big leagues, Uggla has averaged 31 home runs per season.
"Dan gives us the right-handed power we have been looking to add to the middle of our lineup for the last couple years," Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren said in a statement.
Uggla recently turned down a four-year, $48 million dollar contract offer from the Marlins. They then placed him on the trading block.
A two-time All-Star, Uggla leads all MLB second basemen in home runs since he broke in with the Marlins in 2006. He ranks 13th on the all-time home run list for second basemen.
Infante was outstanding for the Braves in 2010, hitting .321 with eight home runs and 47 RBI. He got additional playing time with the injuries to Chipper Jones and Martin Prado.
Dunn was equally good for the Braves last season, pitching in 25 games and posting a 1.89 ERA. He allowed only four runs on 15 hits in 19 innings pitched.
Uggla could play second base, with Prado moving to left field. Uggla could also play third base, until Jones returns from his knee surgery. Or the Braves could try Uggla in left, a position he played a bit in the minor leagues.
The Braves had a predominantly left-handed lineup, with Jason Heyward, Brian McCann, and rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman. So the addition of a right-handed power bat was critical this offseason.
Atlanta also wanted to acquire a big bat without giving up one of their prized pitching prospects. While Dunn is a fine young relief prospect, the Braves got Uggla without trading Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, or Randall Delgado.
