The post-Braves career of Dan Uggla will continue with the Giants organization.
The second baseman, released by the Braves Friday, cleared waivers and was signed to a minor-league deal with the Giants organization Monday according to multiple reports. He will join Triple-A Fresno. The Giants had not confirmed or commented on a deal with Uggal.
The Giants will only have to pay Uggla the pro-rated league minimum if he makes it to the major leagues. Uggla has an opt-out clause for Aug. 1 if he hasn’t been called up according to the reports.
The 34-year-old Uggla, who hit .162 this season with two home runs and 10 RBIs, has 1 1/2 years and $19 million remaining on the five-year contract he got from the Braves in 2010. After being left off the Braves postseason roster last year, Uggla’s struggles continued this season. He was benched in favor of rookie Tommy La Stella in May and was suspended for the Braves final game before the All-Star break. He was waived before the Braves first game back from the break.
“Dan is a San Francisco Giant,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said before Monday’s game against the Marlins. “I saw that and I wish him luck. Hopefully, he gets back to the major leagues.”
Braves hitting coach Greg Walker said he would not be surprised if Uggla is able to turn his season around in a new location.
“If you go back and watch the tape of Danny at the end of spring training and the first two weeks of the season, he was covering all the pitches – breaking balls, fastballs, he was covering them all,” Walker said. “OK, now if he did that for a two-, three-, four-week period, then physically why couldn’t he keep doing it? So I felt like for a while that Danny probably did need a fresh start.
“I love the guy the way he competes, I love the way he respects the game. It’s unbelievable how he goes out there and he’s not playing very well and he runs the ball out, wants to play every day, doesn’t dodge anything – he’s a true professional. And I’ll pull for him every day of his career.”
- Staff writer David O’Brien contributed to this report.
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