MLB Rumors: San Francisco Giants considering Dan Uggla
By Hayden Kane
When it comes to “buy low” candidates in any professional sport, it might literally be impossible to get any lower than the current status of former Atlanta Braves’ second baseman Dan Uggla.
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The Braves committed to Uggla at the beginning of the 2014 season as their guy at second base. The idea was that he would get one more chance to prove himself after an abysmal .179/.309/.362 campaign in 2013.
Atlanta knew that they would probably never get their money’s worth on the five-year, $62 million extension to which they signed Uggla. They were just hoping he could salvage some value and maybe even be a competent everyday player again.
Unfortunately for the Braves and for Uggla, it ended up being much of the same disappointment in 2014: in 48 games with the Braves this season Uggla batted an atrocious .162/.241/.231. He was eventually benched before the team finally had no choice but to release him on Friday.
It seems impossible to fathom that another team would give Uggla another chance so quickly, but that is exactly the case. Andrew Baggarly reports that the San Francisco Giants are taking a real look at Uggla.
I can confirm that Dan Uggla is under consideration for #SFGiants. He's being talked about.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 18, 2014
There are a couple factors at play here. For one, right-handed power has become as sought after as left-handed pitching in Major League Baseball. It is hard to find, and so teams are willing to give guys with that one skill many, many chances to succeed. That is why Mark Reynolds might be playing in the big leagues into his 50’s and why Uggla might get another chance this season.
For another thing the Giants have uncertainty at the second base position. Yes, Marco Scutaro finally returned earlier this month, but maybe San Francisco is still looking to hedge with a guy with big league experience at the keystone…even if he hasn’t batted over .200 in two years.