Braves' contract negotiations with Dan Uggla to pick up soon

ORLANDO -- While Braves officials talk to teams and representatives for free agents at baseball's winter meetings about deals to strengthen the bench and bullpen, negotiations on a potential Big Deal have been on hold.

That will change soon, when general manager Frank Wren and Dan Uggla's agent ramp up negotiations on a possible contract extension to retain the power-hitting second baseman well beyond the 2011 season.

The Braves got Uggla in a Nov. 16 trade for infielder Omar Infante and reliever Mike Dunn.

"We had a nice discussion when he was in for the [introductory] press conference," Wren said. "We're going to get to further discussions probably in the near future. I've talked to his representative [recently] but nothing substantive, negotiation-wise."

A two-time All-Star and 2010 Silver Slugger winner, Uggla has averaged nearly 31 home runs and 93 RBIs in five seasons. He could command at least $10 million in arbitration for 2011 and become a free agent after the season.

The Braves hope he signs a multi-year extension before then. Preferably long before.

Uggla turned down Florida's four-year, $48 million offer, asked for five years and $71 million, then was traded.

Raised a Braves fan in Columbia, Tenn., he seems motivated to stay long-term with the Braves and play for his former Marlins manager, Fredi Gonzalez.

"The early discussions we've had -- really just introductory discussions -- have been very pleasant," Wren said. "I think there's a mutual desire for us to keep him long-term and for him to stay long-term. I think that's come through loud and clear, both from Terry [Bross, Uggla's agent] and from Dan.

"And I think we've made it very clear that's what we want to have happen. But we haven't gone beyond that. There will be an appropriate time for that."

Wren smiled, then said: "And hopefully you guys won't know a thing about it till it's over."

Uggla is the right-handed power hitter the Braves searched years to find. He has more homers (154) in his first five seasons than any middle infielder in major league history.

"He likes playing for Fredi," Wren said. "His family loves the fact that it's Atlanta. It's easier for him, for friends and family to come watch him play.

"He likes hitting in our park. There's places where you feel very comfortable playing, you feel very comfortable hitting. And then there's other places you don't. Those places you don't, you probably don't want to go long-term.

"And so we have a lot of those things that are advantages for us."

Cox leaves meetings for family matter

Retired Braves manager Bobby Cox left the winter meetings late Monday because of an undisclosed illness in his family and missed a special news conference Tuesday with fellow recently retired managers Joe Torre, Lou Piniella and Cito Gaston.

Braves president John Schuerholz sat in for Cox at the event, hosted by commissioner Bud Selig.

"I don't know if you've ever been a pinch-hitter before, but you are now," Selig said to Schuerholz.

"It's like you came to see Babe Ruth come to bat and here comes Eddie Gaedel coming out of the dugout," Schuerholz joked to a ballroom filled with reporters and TV crews. "That's probably not what you came for, but here I am."

Cox has been at the meetings in his new advisor's role, sitting in with top scouts and other Braves officials during sessions with Wren and his staff in their eighth-floor suite.

Wren said several teams are interested in starting pitcher Kenshin Kawakami, whom the Braves are peddling. The Braves know they will have to cover a significant portion of his $6.67 million salary in order to trade him.