Would you pay $60 million to keep Uggla? The Braves might

Is 4 yrs possible? …I’d do that for sure

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Mark,

When next do you cover Jackets BB? I feel the need to _itch about Hewitt.

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Uggla’s definitely worth it in the short term — we’ll need a great right handed bat to go up against Cliff Lee four or five times a year. The real question, why is a reporter in Boston breaking an Atlanta baseball story? Is everybody on vacation at the AJC — other than you, of course.

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Mark,

I would suggest to look at Jason Werth contract cha cha….$12 Mil for Uggla is reasonable. If you want to talk about over paying for a player, it had to be Derek Low..($15 Mil)…This article does not make much sense…

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Hi Mark, are they Braves any closer to unloading KK? This might free up some money.

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I don’t think it’s really fair to compare the $14mil that Chipper makes to signing Uggla to a $12mil deal. Player salaries have gone up significantly since Chipper inked his last big deal and the Braves haven’t had a 30hr / 100 rbi guy in a long while. We really need a nice bat in the middle. Wren knows that he will probably have some additional dollars to play with once Liberty sells the Braves after this coming season. That’s why he has held onto most of the pitching prospects rather than trade them for CFs like some of the idiots on these blogs have suggested. He wants to see what the new paradigm will be with new ownership before making any massive moves.

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way too much money…for a guy that age…but like you said “it’s not my money”

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This bozo isn’t over-the-hill, since he was never on top of the hill.

Run the arrogant bum out of town on a rail.

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MB:

While I agree that this seems like overpaying, it is nowhere near the egregious overpaying we did to Chipper on his last contract, which he is still under. That was a Derek Jeter type contract, where we were rewarding him for his prior performance, but make no mistake about it: that contract was horrible and currently hamstrings the Braves. The Uggla one, while excessive, is unfortunately more a sign of the times for a solid player.

HT

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HT – Chipper took a hometown discount basically every year of his career and even his last contract was fairly below market considering his age and track record. He probably could have made double with the Yanks.

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I absolutely would NOT. I did not and still do not think this was a good move on the Braves part. He will make roughly 8 times what Omar made and his numbers are not good enough to justified the move. It amazes me how people get rich making moves like this.

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How much did Liberty pay their CEO? They can afford it. Uggla would probably have over 100 rbi’s if he played for someone other than the Marlins

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Uggla’s an upgrade, but he ain’t $60 mil of upgrade.
Unless I get a cut.

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Mark Bradley. Mark Bradley said: Would you pay $60 to keep Dan Uggla? According to @nickcafardo, the #Braves just might. (Not sure I would, though.) http://bit.ly/gPJJ7E [...]

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Considering the amount of money Jayson Werth got from the Nationals, Uggla is definitely worth $12 million. As soon as this deal gets done, Wren needs to focus on locking up Heyward for a while so we don’t have to pay him $15 million a year.

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If we can win the World Series once in the next six years and his only contribution to said championship is that he doesn’t make a costly, Conradesque error, then it’s worth it.

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Yes in a heartbeat the Braves will be getting a bargain if they sign him to that deal.

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For a 30 HR left fielder, it’s not a bad deal. For a 2nd basemen with over 20 errors, it is overpaying.

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rawdawg, get a feaking life man

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Lowe will be gone next season as well as KK. I think we can afford to give Uggla some of that money dont you. After all, neither will be resigned and our pitching of the future is here.

5 years is a good deal. Its time we got some real players and Chipper will be on the bench most of the year so we need Uggla.

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DOB stopped breaking ATL news since his little Ken Griffey Jr accident.

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Uggla’s fielding % is the same as Infante’s and Prado.

I think KK is a much better pitcher then McLouth is a hitter & CF. I would eat McLouth’s contract and make KK the 5th guy

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HT – I’m not exactly clear on what you thing UGA should do. ha

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Chipper is “stealing money”. The Braves owe him $26 mil over the next two years. If Uggla does end up signing $60 mil spread over 5 years, it will be BARGAIN on what we’re paying Dipper, because The Dipper (his stats have dipped big time) is dipping big time without putting out (in other words, The Dipper is like a “pretty lady” who one showers with gifts ($26 mil), yet refuses(meaning he’s way past his prime) to put out).

At least Uggla is going to “put out”, not come up with excuses (injuries) why he can “put out”.

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The Braves owe him $28 mil…pretty sure

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Paying Uggla anything is a freaking joke.

He may be qualified enough for batboy.

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Concerning Uggly: Who else are we gonna get for 12mil / year who might be able to launch 30 HR?

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“Mark Bradley……what do you think of the Braves trading Derek Lowe and his 2 year, $30 mil contract to the Yankees (who obviously need starting pitching with a track record for being mentally tough enough to handle an environment like New York)? Lowe had a great September and pitched 2 good games against San Francisco in he play-offs.

Trading Lowe (either to acquire a player in return who fills a legit need……or for nothing (a bag of balls type prospect) if the Yankees were to also take McLouth’s or Kawakami’s contract off our hands)…..would free up considerable money for the Braves to spend towards improving the team (the Braves have the prospects to trade for Zach Greinke, if Lowe’s contract was gone).”

While you’re at it, why not throw in trade for Albert Pujols? This is one of the dumbest comments ever written on a blog. The chances of the Yankees taking Lowe and one of McLouth/Kawakami are about as good as McLouth and Kawakami winning the MVP and Cy Young this year.

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And exactly where would you get the 30 home runs that Uggla is doing to hit – at any price Bradley? Last time I checked the only other 30 HR free agent was an even worse fielder and plays first base (Dunn). 12 mil per year just does not go very far these days. We got a great deal – history will shine favorably on the Braves for this signing.

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Mark: I agree with you. Uggla is not the player the Braves should pay $12 million per year. A much better
investment for $60 million over 5 years would be for
a power hitting outfielder. A second baseman should
not be the position player to depend on as the major power hitter in your lineup. One may argue that it does not matter what position provides the power; however any outfielder worth 12M/year must provide big power numbers. You can get a good defensive .280 hitting 2B for much less.

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Herschel Talker………Dude, have you even been following the Yankees struggles for starting pitching? Right now, their rotation consists of C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett (whose a mental case right now on the mound)……..that’s it.

The Yankees are not about to pay the next best starting pitcher (Carl Pavano) on a very weak market because Pavano couldnt make it work his first time in N.Y. (injuries, dude basically sucked, lol)….nor are they going to risk acquiring another Ed Whitson (Zach Greinke is a good pitcher, who has never pitched well in N.Y. AND has a social anxiety disorder that he takes meds for).

So knowing that all….the Yankees need for starting pitching ISNT GOING AWAY. And considering that most teams arent exactly in a mood to just give away starting pitching (AND given the Yankees need for quality starting pitching who has the “intangibles” to flourish in an environment like N.Y. isnt going away)……I do not see that it is far fetched at all that the Yankees would “at least” be interested in acquiring Derek Lowe from the Braves.

Assuming that the Yankees have a legit interest in Lowe….the next question becomes “how does Frank Wren handle this”? Does he try to obtain a legit prospect or player off the Yankees roster in exchange for Lowe…..OR…….does he say to the Yankees, “you dont have to give us anything back for Lowe, AS LONG as you’re willing to take either McLouth’s or Kawakami’s contract off our hands”.

Sure, it may sound far fetched. However, the Braves are dealing from a position of strength…….along with knowing that the Yankees are desperate for quality starting pitching who is mentally tough enough to handle pitching well in N.Y.

I can see how you may not agree with my post. But to call it “the stupidest post you’ve ever seen”….well, shows how stupid you are.

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That’s a fair market value considering what other FA are getting out there in the open market. 60 Million…or about 12 million per season…We are paying Chipper what close to 15 million right now (and for 2 more seasons looks like unless he retires after 2011). Consider that ….Uggla’s is a fair contract.

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Mark, what your looking at is the rise in cost of players. If Chipper Jones was the same age now that he was when he signed that big contract with the Braves, they would have to pay him $20+ million per year. That is the going price for the big time free agents.

$12 million per year could sign a top free agent 10 years ago. Now it signs a second tier guy like Uggla. Its basically today’s equivalent of paying $7-8 million for a player 10 years ago. That’s why the GM’s were pissed at the Werth contract. Contracts like that just keep driving the free agent price up for all levels of players. At the end of 5 years, I think the Braves will be happy to have kept Uggla.

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Just a general question. The Braves are constantly talking about wanting a middle infielder, who can back up at shortstop. Why don’t they invite Nick Greene to ST and see if he can make the team. Not much to lose with an invite and league minimum.

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Mark, I think you are right. It is a good sign that the Braves are willing to spend this much money, just wrong guy.

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12 million dollars a year honestly doesn’t seem that much to me in modern baseball terms, especially in an era where even Jeff Francoeur can sign a multi-million dollar deal after putting up a .300 OBP. The Braves organization is overflowing with young pitching talent, and it looks like they will have a potent, affordable pitching staff for a long time. That’s a good thing, but it does mean the Braves have to open the checkbook a bit for position players and offer than more than one or two years. The alternative is to build a lineup of AAAA players and rejects whom they can sign to one or two year contracts. If the Braves can get three years of 30 hr from Uggla and another 2 years where he hits at least 20 it will have been a good move, and 12 million isn’t going to seem like that much once Chipper, Lowe, KK, and McLouth come off the books.

Also– who cares how many RBI the guy has driven in with the Marlins? We know he’s a good hitter.

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“almost Chipper money”

The market is changing. Try and keep up.

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Twelve million for five years to a player who will eventually be the Braves left fielder?

OVERPAID. But so are most major league players. I’m just glad it’s not my money go to waste.

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Uggla’s immediately the best offensive player on this team so I say give him the deal. The fact that he was able to drive in 100 runs once with the MARLINS is amazing. Give him deal.

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It works for me. Now a free agent outfielder. Johnny Damon maybe? Magglio Ordonez?

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I agree with MB, Wren has overreacted again, Uggla is a good fit, but we need to see how he works out in the short term. All last winter all we hear is the Braves could not make moves because most of the budget was tied up on a few players. Now we tie up 5yr an $61M on a 31 year old bad fielder. The Marlins had him for a number of years and would not sign him long term. He has pop, but in a year or so will be only usuable as DH, he will make our secondbaseman in the playoffs last year look like a gold glover. If Braves wanted pop they could of signed Dunn for 2 years. Its like KK and Lowe, next year at this time Braves will be trying to unload Uggla and will not have any takers with that contract tied to him.

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Its a good deal for a guy who will hit 30 hrs/year for at least the next 2-3 years. His defense really is not that bad, I think people are overemphasizing that aspect of his game…its not that poor, its just average.

And BTW – Marlins tried to resign him four roughly the same money over 4 years..I think he wanted out of FL and who can blame him.

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60 million? wow no wonder the Ga mascot “uggla” left football for baseball

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How about locking down Jason Heyward before he skips town? If he improves his offensive consistency and matures into a truly complete hitter over the next couple of seasons, the Braves will find it extremely difficult to keep him around for long.

The flip side of this is that I don’t like guaranteed contracts in sports; they’re risky and they’ve ruined pro sports as a whole but baseball especially is ridiculous with its player/agent avarice. If a guy lands a huge contract and then either gets hurt or just fails to deliver, the team and its fans are left in the cold. But as long as the system in baseball is what it is, the Braves should lock down as many of their young stars as possible before they hit arbitration.

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All these guys are overpaid-but I’m glad the Braves have signed him to multi-years. I’m sick of the ‘one and dones’. Now if FW will ever get CF fixed. Please, not another season of watching McOut and his uppercut swing.

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Just because I’m out tom catting every night is no reason to blame me for getting embarrased by Drexel.

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Uggla may or may not be worth the money the Braves are offering him, but I’d rather see a trade acquisition stay here for more than one year for a change. And considering that the owners don’t seem likely to put up the cash necessary to bring in better players than him, might as well keep him around.

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I think that that MOST IMPORTANT decision that Fredo will HAVE TO MAKE (if he wants to do the right thing, instead of catering to the insatiable desire of so-called Braves fans)……is where to bat The Dipper in the batting order.

There is NO FREAKING WAY that The Dipper should be batting in the #3 slot of the order. The Dipper should be batting #6 or #7 in the order. Jason Heyward provides MUCH MORE SPEED and POWER than The Dipper does at this point in whatever career he has left.

This is what Fredo’s projected batting order should be (if based on expected production alone….along with whether a lefty or righty is on the mound):

1. Nate McLouth/Jordon Schafer
2. Martin Prado
3. Jason Heyward
4. Brian McCann/Dan Uggla
5. Dan Uggla/Brian Mccann
6. The Dipper/Alex Gonzalez
7. Alex Gonzalez/The Dipper
8. Freddie Freeman

In that line-up, The Dipper should not be batting any higher than 6th. However, if Fredo caves in to fan pressure, then expect to see The Dipper batting in his “welfare” spot in the order…..because The Dipper will be the most expensive “punch and judy” #3 hitter in baseball.

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Nothing will please some of you people. Complian that the Brave don’t do enough then complain when you think they do too much. Jason Werth got over 100 million so I think 60 million is a fair deal for a RIGHT HANDED POWER HITTER. Is it the best deal the Braves could have gotten who knows but 60 million over five years for a guy who will hit 25+ homers a year sounds ok to me.

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Big and long contracts carry more potential for tears than for cheers. Once the big stuff is in the pocket, tell me — where… where is the incentive to work hard? It does not exist. Pride lasts only until things get real comfortable. Money IS the incentive — otherwise, players would stay right where they are, in a nice comfortable situation. And who is the poster child for that kind of move right now?

His last name is Werth. Left a World Series team to move to the bottom of the division for ….. mega $$$$$$$.

And once a lengthy contract is hanging on the wall it’s soooo easy for a player to have a couple of “off” years, why, it happens to everyone! It’s the owners that are the fools in this — that is NOT a good way to do business — usually. Which probably tips us all off that baseball is doing just fine — even in the lower levels of the league.

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In 2 years when Chipper & Lowe are off the books & hopefully we have a new owner we will be sittin pretty to be big buyers, the Phils pitching will be older & ours will be more experienced, then its time to start another long run of pennants, we have a great nucleus now! Go Bravos Ugga Ugga

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Five years from now, when the Braves are paying a 35 year old Uggla $12 million on the last year of his contract, the Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies will be lesser players $12 million per season to pinch hit.

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Hey Mark. After reading your comments you got me thinking. Uggla may not be Chipper, but the 12 mil is good for this market. i do like it. However, it does mean that we need to expect to pick up a bat that will cost us $16 – $18mil. That is if we are to contend for the division.

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dawgfan, I have a inside source that works in the Bama athletic dept. that is best buds with Kirby Smart, hes already bought property in Athens for when the Dawgs come calling, if CMR has another rough year in 2011, HELLO Kirby! this is not rumor, its a FACT guaranteed. Merry Xmas to all Dawg fans, sic em WOOF WOOF!!!!!!!!!

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WTF!
December 16th, 2010
6:55 pm

What exactly has this guy done for the Braves to earn this?

And just what exactly were you expecting him to do for the Braves being that he has played for the Marlins for the past 5 seasons?

What exactly did Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez do for the Red Sox to earn their contracts? What exactly did Adam Dunn do for the White Sox to earn his contract?

I can tell you what exactly Dan Uggla did to the Braves in the past to earn this contract but if you can’t comprehend that players aren’t supposed to do things to help their opposing teams, particularly teams within their own division then it would just be entirely pointless.

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If it’s true that Uggla’s fielding % is around the same as Infante’s, then it appears that there is a wash in that department. Uggla’s power numbers fit the Braves’ need for right handed power. As one person opined, in this economic era 12 mil is not too far out of line. The fifth year is obviously a consideration considering his age but i believe he’ll at least be good for 3 or 4 good years.
In conjunction with extending Uggla,now is the time to deal Derek Lowe. I believe there is a market for him. I think the Braves would be selling high and setting themselves up for other moves. I believe the Yankees and less so the Rangers or other teams would be interested in dealing for Lowe. I believe it was Branch Rickey who believed in trading a player a year early and getting better value than holding on to that player for another year. Trade for prospects and payroll flexibility. Spin the prospects(without depleting our prospects) for a young right handed hitting center fielder (Cain of Brewers?). Possibly sign Soriano for 2 years or any experienced closer will do to strengthen bullpen and lessen burden on Kimbrel and Venters (no need to rush Medlen). A lockdown bullpen will positively affect all the starters.Give Beachy,Minor or (late in the year)Teheran starting roles. More money can be used to trade Kawakami or McLouth or both. Trading deadline deals become possible. Trading Lowe will make it harder on paper to compete this year but sets the team up to better compete in the near future. Arbitration or long term deals for Jair and Hanson would be less onerous. How much closer to the Phils will the team be with Lowe?Not to denigrate Lowe but I believe a strong bullpen will affect as many games as Lowe might win. I have respect for Lowe but I think now is a fortuitous time to deal him. I don’t think he’d mind going to the Yankees. The prospect to improve the team short and especially long term is available by making this trade at this moment. Clubs are looking for reliable innings eating playoff tested pitchers.Remind you of anyone? He only has 2 years left on his deal. Not a long term commitment for the acquiring team.
The trade gives the Braves flexibility in acquiring a quality shortstop next year if Gonzalez is let go. It gives Beachy, Minor and Teheran two years to develop while still keeping the team competitive. Remember it took Smoltz and Glavine a couple of years at the Major league level to develop. A strong bullpen allows for greater protection for them and the staff as a whole. Kris Medlen is in this picture. If needed, he can be installed in the rotation in 2012. There are many positives for the roster if the trade is made. Now is the time if there’s a deal out there. I firmly believe there is a team willing to make a deal.
If the price is right, I would also consider signing Derek Lee.I respect Freeman’s talent. But you give Freeman time to develop. A healthy Derek Lee would add another strong right handed bat to the lineup. Late innings matchup tactics for the manager would improve with no loss of defensive capability. As we have seen, Lee saved a lot of errors for the infield last year. If he would accept this role, a 2 year deal would be good for the team. I believe he would get more at bats than it would seem at first glance. I believe Fredi is like Cox in the sense that he finds at bats for his players. Matt Diaz being an example of what I think could be done with Lee.
The Braves would have more payroll available next year for a quality free agent. So many things possible so little comparable downside.

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Amazing how so many folks here have such a hangup about ballplayers’ ages.

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KakNique Tree…..I dont think that “age” is so much the issue…..as the ability of a player to not only produce BUT ALSO stay healthy…..IN RELATION to how much he is being paid….ALONG with how he is used (for instance, The Dipper hitting #3 in the batting order when healthy).

Real Braves fans want to see Fredo put the best time out there who are put in positions to produce and help us WIN………..we do not want to see Fredo play players to satisfy the insatiable need of so-called Braves fans who in fact are more loyal to certain players…then they are to the team.

It’s so-called Braves fans like those who could live with the Braves struggling…AS LONG as they get to see their favorite, over the hill, failing to re-live past glory, getting welfare playing time players play.

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Sign him! Good grief, we have spent more on far less!!

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Right on, MitchC!

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Hey Mark,

You could have just wrote this: Who cares it Liberty’s money give him the dough and been done with this article. 12 mil is a deal with all the silly money being thrown around.

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No one can answer Mark’s question until late June or July. We will know by then. To question the man’s value to the team before he ever spits on home plate for the first time in a Braves uniform is a tad premature. Look, this is a legitimate right handed power bat who will hit between Chipper and McCann. If Chipper & McCann both increase production in power numbers and Uggla “only” hits 30 HR and “only” drives in 91-95 runs, then absolutely he is worth the money. If Chipper and McCann do not flourish with Dan batting between them, then Braves fans have a lot bigger problems to worry about than this $60 million question. Personally, I probably would have waited to do the extension if I were in charge. One can only hope getting this done early will bolster Dan’s confidence and keep him focused just on baseball once the season starts.

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and when i wrote “i’d prefer to have Werth in RF” i didnt mean at the expense at JH. We are very well taken care of in right….JW could play a decent CF or a strong LF…but i hope you get my point.

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Braves should have traded for Josh Willingham instead of letting the A’s get him he could have played in the outfield alongside Jason Heyward and Matin Prado.

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it’s a good deal if you sign him to that contract only if he agrees to move to LF, so that prado can stay at second base. i hate the notion of playing uggla at 2b.

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Chipper should be in the 6 hole with J. Hey #3, Ugga cleanup & McCann 5th, Gonzo 7th, Freeman 8th, Prado perfect @ #2. That puts no pressure on Freeman to hit right away, but unfortunately leaves us with the McOut/Shafer prayer at leadoff, they both have speed but like the old timers say, you cant steal 1st base!!!!! The Dipper in the 3 hole is a HUGE mistake & really is giving Larry too much respect, yes he was MVP, but in what, 1999???? He gets on base & can still hit doubles but as far as power, hes DONE!!!!! I say hes hits about 12 dingers this year, & I bet Im not far off, Go Bravos

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Which is worth more to society, a baseball player or a high school math teacher? That we have our priorities wrong is why we have so many problems.

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“it isn’t your money. It’s Liberty Media’s”

why do I get the feeling if fans just stopped showing up to the ballpark, that would be worded differently?

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I agree with the posters that think $60 mill over 5 years sounds like a steal compared to the Werth deal.

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Sounds like the going rate for his average performance. You eventually have to hitch your wagon to somebody. The Braves’ success in this decade will be decided by how well the next wave from the farm produce. For now they must eat the Chipper, KK & McLouth contracts.

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Cale do you know that martini a I like to call him is a dang good of. and uggla’s never played there…and fredie has stated he is confident with his df.. and you make a cutting remark and refer to markie’s article

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AT TODAYS PRICES HE WORTH THE 60 MIL.

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I have absolutely no problems with signing Uggla to that amount.

For one, Nate McLouth has a 1.25 million club buyout after 2011 if we need to cut his $10.65 million salary.

For another, KK’s 6.7 million will be off the books next year.

Lastly, Chipper will only be around a couple more years, three if he reaches his vesting options by playing in enough games.

Most importantly, the Braves haven’t had a reliable right-handed hitter since Andruw was in his prime, and Uggla is actually better. It’s second base. If he can turn a DP and make routine plays, then we can get by. Let’s also not forget that he isn’t a one or two year wonder, but a legit 5 year stud.

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This is a no-brainer yes in modern day baseball. You have to have guys like him on the team to compete.

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It’s a stretch on dollars and term. If Uggla played second base like — Martin Prado — then this would have been a good risk. As is, they are paying premium prices for a defective product. Two big ifs have to materialize to make this pay:

1. Uggla has to average over 100 rbi’s a year for five years
2. He has to play somewhere besides second base, competently.

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Uggla’s not a cornerstone player, but $12MM isn’t cornerstone player money. Try $15MM+ for that. Baseball needs a salary cap.

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wow…there really are some bonafide boneheads that post comments on here…. chipper’s on base % and club leadership make him worth what we pay him, and really kawakami was the only signing you could really say was a bad signing. mcclouth had great numbers in pittsburgh and wren made a great trade considering what we thought he would do. lowe will be fine next year-he looked great at the end of last season and he was lights out in the NLDS-we just had bad defense in that series. i think wren has done a good job with the resources he’s had which are mid level payroll-the people arguing this are whiners and just get mad whenever we don’t win the world series…and i bet they would still complain even then.

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The Hawks seem to have the pieces yet they stink.

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Weird POV, Mark. You sound like my grandmother complaining about the cost of … well … ANYTHING. She’s always shocked by how much the price has risen in the last 15 years.

$12 million a year for Uggla is not bad at all. It’s not a steal, but it’s a solid price for the Braves to be able to lock up a perennial 30-HR guy. When so many guys are mercenaries demanding 7-year, 9-figure deals from whoever will pay it, it’s refreshing to see a guy like Uggla be willing to commit for less.

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Christopher Chance…Chipper has been worth his new contract and more. His 2007 and 2008 years were monstrous, and thought the last 2 years haven’t been great, he’s still provided some decent production. Not to mention his leadership or marketability.

To all you others flaming this contract..If this Uggla deal gets done..it’s a good signing in this market. Period. You are not getting similar production on the free agent market for anywhere near this price.

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This is a steal. The guy is more productive than Jayson Werth and this is $6 million a year less. Any 30 HR power hitter is worth $12 million

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If the 5 year, $60 mil contract is finalized…..it will be a really good deal for the Braves.

Heyward should bat #3, and Uggla and McCann should flip flop the #4 and #5 spots in the order, depending on whether a righty or lefty is starting. There is NO FREAKING WAY that The Dipper should be batting any higher than #6 in the order.

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the real Old Gold…….there is NO FREAKING WAY that The Dipper is going to walk away from $13 mil each (plus $1 mil bonus each) in 2011 and 2012.

All this talk of “The Dipper taking one for the team” if he continues to struggle….is all that it is…..talk designed to placate simple minded Braves fans who want to continue worshiping The Dipper.

The Dipper struggled in both 2009 AND 2010. He’ll be 39 by Opening Day. I seriously doubt that he’s going to come anywhere close to being productive again. His body is breaking down.

Yet his $13 mil salary…along with him batting #3 in the batting order AND his bad defense at 3rd….will hurt us on the field the next two years.

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Do ya really think Chipper could’ve made it with the Yanks? How long would that wife cheater had stuck around when the NY papers talked about his shoddy defense? Not long.

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Lightly pencil Chipper on the lineup card everyday

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Considering players like Werth ($18M/yr for 7 years at almost age 32), Lilly ($11M/yr for 3 years at age 35), and even Magglio Ordonez ($10M/yr coming off season ending injury and is 37) are getting huge money this offseason, this contract would be a steal. I’d implore you to find a more durable second baseman with as much power as Uggla. How about you check out his career numbers at Turner Field? How about you consider looking at the people batting in front of him in FLA when he “never drove in 100 runs” or the ballpark he played 81 games a season in? Jayson Werth never batted .300 and has only hit 30 hrs once in his career and look at what he got. How about next time you do some research before you give your pointless and baseless opinions about yet another sport you know nothing about. I wish the AJC would leave baseball to DOB since you don’t even seem qualified to write for a high school newspaper.

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Yes, yes I would!! The guy rakes at Turner Field. Power hitting second baseman for 12 per is money well spent.

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Has Uggla missed any games with an ingrown toenail, tweeked hammy, pulled bicep, pulled oblique, strained wrist, strained thumb, and on and on?

If not, he may be a bargain for the Braves, who have witnessed uknowwho sit for weeks at the time with injuries so petty, that John Smoltz finally went to the press to call him out on it.

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Does he have a no-trade in contract?

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I say go with it…Dan may not be the greatest fielder but I think he gets a bum rap
.Jason Werth 7 yrs please.at $126M no one is worth that..and some of these other free agents,one who batted .190 recvd I believe $4M
BM

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Moose, Rocco, help the judge find his wallet.

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I have to disagree here mark. Uggla is one of the premier power hitters in the majors. The 30’s are typicaly the peek years for power hitters (Andruw Jones excluded). I think he’s worth the money.

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This guy will be a positive player for this team….his bat will offset his range at second base. And he is a steady clubhouse guy. For the money in this crazy market…yes he is worth it. The BIGGER concern is Freddy Freemen’s potiential and CHIPPER at third……

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Good deal for both. Lets sign it and talk about something else like who is playing center field for us

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longtimefan………….The Dipper replaced Chipper on the Braves in early 2009 (shortly after he signed the 3 year, $42 mil extension).

I’m a “longtimefan” who loved seeing Chipper Jones hitting in the #3 spot in the order and hitting in clutch situations.

However, I do not want to see The Dipper hitting in the #3 slot of the batting order…nor do I want to see him hitting in clutch situations.

Chipper Jones hit for a high average, drew walks, hit for power and knocked in runs. The Dipper hits for “average” at best and draws walks.

The Dipper is a rich man’s version of Greg Norton.

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Mark Bradley,

I’ve seen some stupid postings from you before, but this might take the cake.

Here are some comparables for Dan Uggla and a recent big time free agent signing, call him Player A.

Uggla
30 years old
ML Career Numbers in 5 seasons
OPS = .837
HR = 154
RBI = 465

Player A
31 years old
ML Career Numbers in 8 seasons
OPS = .848
HR = 120
RBI = 406

Uggla is likely to sign for 5 years at $60 million per the report. Player A signed for 7 years at $126 million. You may have guessed that Player A is Jayson Werth.

So I’d say if the Braves can sign Uggla for the reported deal, they are getting a better offensive player than the Nationals are getting for half the price. Uggla may be lacking defensively compared to Werth, but he’s not worth half as much based on defense.

Mark Bradley failed to do the research that Frank Wren and the Braves obviously did.

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You better believe that I think the Braves need to keep Uggla for 5 or 6 or 7 years as he has the chance of being the other face of the Braves besides McCann after Chipper retires. He is also a good right handed hitter that the Braves have not had for YEARS and he is local from Tennessee and that could help draw a few fans too. Sign him and keep him. At least the Braves will not have to face him either.

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Considering Carl Crawford has never hit 20 homers much less 30 or reached 100 RBIs and is getting paid over 20 million a year, this doesn’t seem like a bad deal to me.

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Chipper Jones is worth every penny the Braves have ever paid him.

You see dummies baseball is a business. The Braves are out to make money.

Whatever they have paid Chipper over the years he has made that back for the team and then some.

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12 mil a year to a guy who hits 30 HR and 100 RBI a year?!?!? Uhhhhh yeah!!!!

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look at it another way…Chipper is getting Uggla money…not such a bad deal now!!!

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stupup74- why not sign him long term and move Prado to 3rd? Then you still use all that money to go get a big bat in the OF? You aren’t going to get 30/100 very often for that price. THe Nationals just paid 4 mil more than that for Werth. Their numbers are pretty comparable.

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Christopher, I agree with you, but.. unfortunately, we signed Lowe to that deal.. and now.. we just have to take what we can get.

Lowe has been a very lucky pitcher the last two years. The Braves score runs when he’s on the mound. He won 15 games last year with a 4.67 ERA, and another 16 this year with a 4.00 ERA. Poor Tommy Hanson had a 3,33 ERA, and was sub 500 at 10-11.

Anyhow, not to get sidetracked. Back to the point of Mark’s article. Unfortunately, the Braves are not a top level payroll team which will attract free agents like Maddux anymore. It’s all about.. not to quote Cuba Gooding in Jerry Maguire, but.. “Show me the money”. Yes, Cliff Lee took “less” from the Phillies to join what might be one of the best rotations ever assembled, but.. that is rare nowadays.

I don’t know what choice the Braves really had in this matter. We are trying to rebuild into a playoff team, after four years of mediocrity. Somewhere, you have to show that this cheapskate ownership is going to spend money.

Maybe it’s the riverboat gambler in me, but.. I say this was probably the best the Braves could do. We need a power hitter who wont bolt from us after one year like Tex did, with Chipper on the decline, and on the way out, and Mccann and J Hey our only power threats. Sometimes, you have to make choices in baseball. The Braves are doing that.

Honestly, we wont be able to assemble a really potent lineup, until Chipper retires. I respect all he has done for the Braves, but. we can take his 10 to 15 mil, when he does hang it up, and put it into a younger, more productive hitter.

The 2011 Braves should be better than 2010, if all are healthy. We arent Philly, but, as I said before, we are about the next best team in the NL.

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Of course it’s reasonable.

It’s still less than Chipper Jones money, and Chipper is playing for a “discount.”

In 2015, the final year of this deal, $12 million won’t be the $13 million Chipper Jones made in 2009. Think about it . . .

Heyward is cheap.
Freeman is cheap
Hanson is cheap.
Jurrjens is cheap.
Chipper and McLouth are in the final year of their respective contracts.
McCann is signed.

This is the guy to sign. He’s in the fold. He wants to be a Brave. He could probably get more elsewhere.

Show me an alternative, rather than simply criticizing the signing.

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I will tell you what I think about paying Uggla 12 million dollars a year. I think it is dumb. I don’t think any baseball player is worth that kind of money. The players and their agents are nothing but money hungry rogues trying to get all they can bilk out of the owners and the price to see a game has gone through the roof. The Phillies seem to have unlimited funds these days and other stupid teams are getting into the act making these already enormous salaries go through the roof. I would like to get back to the good old days when players actually earned their salaries from year to year. If you had a good year you got a raise. Players have no loyalty these days. They are just in baseball for all they can bilk out of owners no matter who the owner is. I use to love watching baseball but now I very rarely watch a game since the players no longer want to play for the fun of it. They are just trying to get rich and that stinks! The owners could break the back of these agents and money hungry overpaid players if they just refuse to sign any free agents and I wish they had the nerve and guts to do it but the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies won’t let than happen with their unlimited resources.

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Spending 12 million a year on a spotty hitter with no glove is ridiculous. I think when you strive for mediocrity instead of locking up solid ball players, you get mediocre results. There were studs out there for the picking. The Phillies got better overnight by picking up Lee, thereby taking a big load off of their bullpen, and their hitters will be energized and will not repeat their collective slumps after numerous injuries from last year. They will not miss Werth, who was a disaster with runners in scoring position. I think the Braves have a h*ll of a hill to climb.

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They won’t keep him otherwise, Mark. There are too many teams out there willing to pay him big money. In the post steroid age guys who hit even 25 homers command this kind of money.

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MitchC,

You didn’t burst any bubble, you merely didn’t follow what I was saying.

I was making two separate points. Chipper made $13 million in 2009. Uggla will make $12 million in 2015. That’s a small difference in dollars, but a long period of time. It was to counter Bradley’s point that Uggla makes almost “Chipper Jones” money. Chipper made that money at a “discount”. Uggla turned down similar money from Miami. We got a good deal.

My other point is that we have some players that are going to be cheaper over the next few years, while some other high dollar contracts fall off.

Chipper, McLouth & KK expire in 2011, Lowe expires in 2012. Having Uggla signed into 2015 will not be a huge drag on our payroll, because we are entering a period of increased payroll flexibility.

Will something be done about our young arms? Sure, it is likely that JJ or Hanson is not extended as a Brave. So be it.

But today, we have guys expected to produce heavily in 2011 (Heyward, Freeman, Prado, Hanson, JJ) that are not expensive.

2015 is a long way away. We can afford to do this now, and still have flexibility as we move to 2012 and beyond.

Once Chipper (injuries), McLouth (disappearing act), and KK (failed experiment) come off the books a lot of doors open up for the Braves.

The fact that we pulled off the deal we did for Uggla was pretty amazing, considering what the Braves have had to do to acquire a bat ever since Gary Sheffiled left town.

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MJ……. Totally agree on your points on Chipper. He has been loyal when he could have left for more money than the Braves have paid him. The Braves owe is to him to let him end his career on his terms. His will to play at a high level again could be a great thing for the Braves this summer. I think it helps him too to know that this team could be really good and that he doesn’t have to carry so much of the weight himself. The pitching is sound and the lineup should be pretty balanced . He could hit 2nd or 6th and really not have as much pressure on him as in the past. I’m with you in respecting who he is and what he has meant and will mean to the Braves long after he retires.

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We/the fans have been knocking the Braves and Wren for not doing enough to make the Braves better. We need to give them credit for the move to get and sign long term Uggla. With a top line of starting pitching, the Braves need a right handed power hitter to help the offense and thats what they got. I would only question the 5 years, however, thats the way it is in today’s market. Hats off to Wren and the Braves for the move.

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Everything is relative. Who has a better chance of hitting 30 home runs, and driving in 100 runs in 2011, Uggla or Chipper? That one wouldn’t even be on the board in Vegas. So the answer is “yes”, he is worth at least what Chipper is going to make next year.

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Hey just a thought……. we can sign Uggla for $60 Million for 5 years and Adrian Beltre is probably going to sign for $70 Million. The Braves could have had BOTH of them for $130 Million. The Nationals just signed Jason Werth for $132 Million. We could have had 50+ Homers 180+RBI and Gold Glove Defense at 3rd base. I know Chipper is not moving to 1b but if he would consider doing that it could help the Braves immensely. This move to me makes a lot more sense than any team paying Jason Werth the money he got. The Nationals WILL regret that contract.

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Worth every penny of the sixty million. 30 hrs from one player we haven’t had in a long time and he’s right-handed. We had no chance in the off season against the Giants. We got no homers out of 3B/SS/2B/1B Lee had 3 hrs since joining Braves/RF J-Hey did nothing/CF three stooges/and LF. Catcher was the only position where that was a possibility. Now, if Chip’s healthy and Freddie pans out we have 1B/2B/3B/RF/ and C as possible home run hitters. Uggla gives us a legitimate 3-4-5 hole.

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Yes, this is a no brainer. By the way, Uggla is not a “lousy” fielder but an average one unless all of you Infante fans feel that he is a lousy fielding too secondbaseman (Uggla fielding % is .980 and Infante’s as a secondbaseman is .981).

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fielding percentage 2010 Uggla 976, Infante 960 and Prado 958 DOB what am I missing here?? Why are we so down on Uggla? He is the best hitter on our team(although I feel Heyward will be soon). 12 million a year is not that bad for a durable slugger

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It’s an okay deal if the 5 year include this coming year (so only 4 more year past this season). Once Uggla moves away from second base, his value drops quite a bit. Best case scenario is 3 or 4 of his prime and 1 okay year at the end there. Personally, I would have wait and see although there is some comfort for both him and us fan to know that he won’t be an one year rental.

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Okay,. UKUGA, I’m sorry I misunderstood your point. I will say that now that I do understand what you are saying, I agree with you.

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I feel you Mark B. I was at Game 3 of the NLDS when a poor fielding 2nd baseman tore my heart out.
My friends and I still reference Brooks Conrad when describing anything awful, tragic, …. or a bowel movement.

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