Atlanta Braves Highest Earners and WAR: Dan Uggla

Let’s take a look at Dan Uggla’s time with the Atlanta Braves

On November 16, 2010, the Atlanta Braves agreed to a trade with the Florida Marlins (now the Miami Marlins) that brought Dan Uggla to Atlanta. The Braves agreed to send Omar Infante and Mike Dunn to the Marlins in exchange for the right-handed power hitter.

Two months after Uggla arrived in Atlanta the Braves signed him to a five-year, $62 million contract. The contract gave Uggla the highest average annual salary for any second baseman in the history of Major League Baseball.

Fans always knew what they were getting with Dan Uggla – below-average batting average, 30+ home runs per year, and an average glove. His Silver Slugger award in 2010 was the exception, not the rule.

In 2011, fans got exactly what they wanted as Uggla with finished with 32 home runs and a .233 batting average (the league average in 2011 was a .255 batting average).

Uggla’s first season with the Braves was also notable as he broke the Braves’ single-season record for longest hitting streak. Beginning July 5, 2011, Uggla hit safely in 33 consecutive games. Nine years later, his record remains.

Uggla managed to secure a trip to the all-star game during the 2012 season. The all-star invite came despite career lows in several categories. More on that later.

The 2013 season was the beginning of the end for Dan Uggla. After 537 plate appearances Uggla finished with 22 home runs, a.179 batting average, and a .671 OPS (.309 OBP + .362 SLG). Uggla was ultimately left off of the Braves’ postseason roster.

By May 2014, Uggla was no longer the starting second baseman for the Atlanta Braves. On July 18, 2014, the Braves released Dan Uggla.

Let’s review the numbers.