Braves get Uggla. Pencil in 30 HR...FINALLY

The Atlanta Braves made a bold move to close the gap on the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East Tuesday when GM Frank Wren struck a deal with the Florida Marlins to acquire power-hitting second baseman Dan Uggla in exchange for Omar Infante and Michael Dunn. Uggla, who recorded several career-best marks last season with the Marlins, will play second base for new Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, whom he played for over the last few years in Florida. He is arbitration-eligible in 2011 and should see a raise from the $7.8M he earned last year after recording the high marks. Uggla recently rejected a 4-year/$48M and the Braves might have to up the ante to keep its new infielder, who should immediately boost the offense.

On the way to claiming the National League's Silver Slugger award as the best-hitting second baseman, Uggla, slugged 33 home runs last year, fifth most in the NL, and drove in 105 runs. Uggla has hit 154 home runs in his five years at the major league level or 32 per season. His 105 RBI were fifth most in the NL and a career high as he averages 97 per season. Uggla isn't just a home run hitter though as he recorded 169 hits, including 31 doubles last year. Uggla has hit as many as 49 double (2007) in a season and he plays nearly every day, never playing less than 146 in a season. Last year Uggla appeared in 159 games. He is a two-time all-star and is a .263 career hitter, though he hit .287 last season while slugging .508 in 2010. More than anything though, the Braves won't have to face Uggla anymore as the former Braves killer averaged .354 in 45 career games at Turner Field, while stroking 12 home runs and driving in 36 runs.

Speaking on infielder, with the addition of Uggla and the likely return of Chipper Jones at third base, 2010 breakout superstar Martin Prado will likely be moved to leftfield to keep his bat in the lineup. Prado does have some experience in the outfield, moreso than Uggla, who has played just a handful of games in the outfield in the minor leagues. Prado last played in leftfield in 2008.

To get Uggla, the Braves had to part with 2010 All-Star Omar Infante, who hit a career-best .321 with eight homers and 47 RBI while playing five different positions and batting leadoff for much of the stretch run. Infante has been with the Braves for the last three seasons after coming over from Detroit in 2007. Michael Dunn posted a 1.89 ERA in 25 relief appearances with Atlanta after coming over in the Javier Vazquez deal. He struck out 27 batters while issuing 17 walks in 19 innings of work. On a side note, after dealing Michael Dunn and releasing Melky Cabrera, the only piece left of the deal sending Vazquez to the Yankee is Arodys Vizcaino, who is one of the top prospects in the Atlanta system and will likely spend some of next year in Class AAA Gwinnett.

The bottom line of the trade is that Atlanta got better in a hurry Tuesday. The Braves acquired a prime candidate for the No. 5 spot in the order, solidifying the Silver Slugging catcher Brian McCann in the cleanup spot of the order. If the team doesn't make anymore moves, Prado would likely go back to hitting leadoff, a spot he thrived in when healthy during the 2010 season, with Jason Heyward back at No. 2 and Chipper at No. 3. McCann would go back to the four-spot with some protection in Uggla at No. 5. I would think Alex Gonzalez could sit in the six-hole with Freddie Freeman coming in at No. 7, as to keep the pressure off the rookie. Look for whomever wins the centerfield spot (Nate McLouth perhaps?) at No. 8 before the rotation. I do believe the Braves might try and do something in centerfield but the team otherwise may just need a small tweak to the bench and maybe resigning Eric Hinske if he is willing to play left if Prado is needed at third base. Great move by Wren to jump head of everyone else and get a two-time All-Star in Uggla without giving up too much. The loss of Infante will hurt, but the addition of Uggla more than makes up for what the super-sub could do.