Braves move quickly, trade for Marlins slugger Uggla

Uggla, 30, is a two-time All-Star who just turned down the Marlins' four-year, $48 million extension offer. He could make more than $10 million in his final year of arbitration and be eligible for free agency after the 2011 season, though the Braves expect to try signing him to an extension.

Wren said the Braves plan to play Uggla at second and move All-Star second baseman Martin Prado to left field. Prado will also back up third baseman Chipper Jones, who's recovering from knee surgery.

Wren said Prado would be the starter at third if Jones, 38, isn't ready. Jones, who has two years and $28 million left on his contract, has progressed on schedule in his recovery.

"Our expectation is Chipper will play third," said Wren, who spoke with Jones after the trade. "When Chipper can't play third, Martin will be over there, and he'll be in left some. He plays left in winter ball. That's been his primary position in winter ball."

Uggla, 30, also set career-highs last season for batting average (.287), on-base percentage (.369) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.877). He would've led the Braves in homers, RBIs, slugging and OPS.

The Braves and Marlins made the first big trade of the offseason, negotiating the deal in a few days and finalizing it on the first day of general managers meetings at Orlando. The consensus among industry types and media analysts was the Braves got the best of the deal.

New Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had Uggla in the middle of his lineup  in Florida, where Gonzalez managed  for 3-1/2 seasons before he was fired in June. When Wren called Tuesday to ask him if he'd trade Infante and Dunn for Uggla, Gonzalez asked who else had to be included?

When told no one, Gonzalez told him to make the deal.

"I'm really exited," Gonzalez said. "I already made out about five lineups today. This is a big bat in our lineup and he's a tremendous clubhouse guy, as blue-collar as they come. Our fans are going to absolutely fall in love with him. He's a great teammate and he plays the game one way -- he tries to beat you."

Uggla was born in Kentucky and raised in Columbia, Tenn., near Nashville. He was traveling in Mexico on Tuesday when Gonzalez called and was said to be excited about the trade.

"We think it sets up the middle of our lineup very well," said Wren, pleased to have more balance to the Braves' lineup with right-handers Uggla, Prado and shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

Uggla made $7.8 million in 2010 and is entering his final year of arbitration. Wren said the Braves would wait to begin discussions on a contract extension.

Losing Infante  hurts the bench, and the Braves  hope to re-sign free agent outfielder Eric Hinske and possibly Matt Diaz. Wren wants to pick up some of Infante's slack with the recent addition of corner infielder-outfielder Joe Mather, claimed off waivers from St. Louis.

Dunn is a hard-throwing lefty who, as a rookie in 2010, posted a 1.89 ERA in 25 appearances, with 27 strikeouts and 17 walks in 19 innings.

Infante made the All-Star team as a utility man and hit a career-best .321 with eight homers and 47 RBIs. He played five positions and was a lineup regular in the second half, filling in for Jones.

"These are two guys that we like a lot," Wren said. "But you're not going to get a Dan Uggla without giving up something good."