Atlanta Braves: 5 Worst Contracts In Recent Memory

Dan Uggla #26 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Atlanta Braves Extend Dan Uggla

In November of 2010, the Atlanta Braves traded Omar Infante and Mike Dunn. At the time, it seemed like a solid acquisition with Uggla having the best year of his career with a 131 OPS+, and even receiving some down-ballot MVP votes with a 4.3 WAR season.

Uggla then went on to earn an extension with the Braves the following year, even though he actually didn’t have too great of a season slashing .233/.311/.453 with a 107 OPS+, which was a 24% drop off from his previous season for the Marlins.

His extension was the highest annual salary for a second baseman ever at that point in time with a 5 year, $62 million contract.

His 2012 year was even worse than his 2011 from an offensive standpoint. Even though he led the league in walks, he still had a blow average OPS+ with a 98. To be fair, he did have his best defensive season ever with a 0.9 dWAR. Even still, the extension was not looking good.

In 2013 he fell off even harder with an 85 OPS+, and his defense didn’t save him this time having his second worse defensive season ever with a -1.1 dWAR.

His 2014 was so bad with a 27 OPS+ in his first 52 games, that the Braves ended up releasing Uggla by July.

It is safe to say that the misfires of extension of Uggla, and the signing of Upton, is what triggered the Braves rebuild that ultimately paid off in 2021 with a World Series win.