When the Braves traded for Dan Uggla earlier this offseason, it was well noted that Uggla was due for free agency at the end of the 2011 season. For many, the news of a possible extension came with dread due to Uggla's aging and projected numbers down the road. The dread just became a lot more realistic Thursday at the news of Uggla and the Braves getting closer to an extension.
Reported by Mark Bowman, the Braves are said to be nearing an extension worth five years at $60 million, though the terms are not known for sure. The two sides did not agree to a deal as of Thursday afternoon, but Bowman says "there is now further indication that the two sides are nearing an agreement."
During Uggla's negotations with the Marlins at the end of the 2010 season, he insisted on five years after turning down a four-year, $48 million offer. Whether that was due to his desire to leave the Marlins and ploy to make more in free agency is not known, but the fact that five years is being talked about by Bowman shows he may in fact be serious about it.
For the casual Braves fan, extending Uggla and his home run power for five years sounds like a great deal. For the Braves fan that knows what could be in store for Uggla down the road, it is not good news by any means. Uggla's style of offense does not age well after 30, which was Uggla's age this year. He is almost certain to decline from here on, and the risk of possibly holding no value whatsoever by the age of 35 or 36 is there. Locking him up for these years is not a smart move.