Atlanta Braves General Manager upbeat over Dan Uggla contract negotiations
The Winter Meetings have spread a lot of the attention in the Major League over the 30 teams in the National League and the American League. The free agency is actively moving along the off-season period and the top players in
the game are looking to land secure, high yielding jobs for franchises that are interested in adding power to their rosters.
Major League Baseball is enjoying a good time in the off field season. Managers are now acting on the frontlines and while ball stars live out their holidays in comfort, the board of directors, in many teams, is actively pursuing
ways to fix problems in the backroom. The Atlanta Braves however, have been doing well thus far. They needed a second baseman desperately and the Florida Marlins had the answer to their problem.
Hitter, Dan Uggla, was offered a 4-year, $48 million contract by the Marlins but the slugger declined the offer based on a wage increase and a longer tenure inclusion in the deal. The veteran, who is 31, had no interest in moving
out of the club, but when negotiations between the side and the batter declined, the Marlins were more than obliged to trade the testy hitter.
The Atlanta Braves acquired the top man and Marlins owner, Jeffrey Loria, went on to comment on the player by saying,
"If somebody wants to give him five years, good luck to them. He's 31 years old."
However, things are going smooth in Atlanta. Braves’ General Manager, Frank Wren, is particularly happy with the negotiations being held with the player. Dan will become a free agent by the end of the next year and Frank wants
a contract signed soon. The two sides are not having any problems and it seems a deal will be worked out in the coming days, which means Uggla will be staying with the side beyond 2011.
Wren recently commented on the negotiation process. He said,
"The early discussions we've had - really introductory discussions - have been very pleasant. I think there's a mutual desire for us to keep him long term and for him to stay long term. I think that has come through loud and clear - both from Terry and
from Dan. I think we've made it clear that's what we want to happen."
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