Giants take a chance on Atlanta's Dan Uggla
Second baseman Dan Uggla has signed a minor-league deal with the Giants and will join Triple-A Fresno, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
Though Uggla is making $13 million this season and next from the Braves -- MLB contracts are guaranteed -- he'll only cost the Giants the prorated league minimum now that the Braves have released him. And that is, of course, assuming Uggla even makes it to the majors. He has an opt-out clause for Aug. 1 if he hasn't yet been called up from the minors.
Uggla, 34, hit just .162/.241/.231 (33 OPS+) with two homers and 10 RBI in 145 plate appearances this season for the Braves. Last year, he hit .179/.309/.362 with 22 homers and 55 RBI. He has six seasons with at least 27 homers and and 82 RBI to his credit, last in 2011. He's a three-time All-Star.
Considering how little the Giants have to pay Uggla, the fact that he won't be an everyday starter and how streaky he's been in his career, this is a low-risk, (relatively) high-reward flier.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24631176/dan-uggla-signs-minor-league-deal-with-giants
Why not? People thought Tim Hudson was just about finished too.
