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The MLB off-season can set up a player for success or disaster. Some teams made a big splash, while others are still looking for a solution. Each team has the potential of making 2011 a season to remember, but which players are looking to take the fantasy scene by storm?

Postion changes or calling a new town home can be just the spark a player needed to become an elite fantasy option. Understanding exactly which off-season moves impacted which players is the key to a successful 2011 fantasy baseball campaign.

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Second base is a position that has numerous youngsters who could make their presence felt as soon as 2011.  Jason Kipnis, Dustin Ackley and Brett Lawrie could all eventually join the elite at the position, but first they need to make their MLB debuts.  How should they be ranked by fantasy owners in keeper leagues?  Let’s take a look:

1. Robinson Cano – New York Yankees
2. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
3. Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
4. Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers
5. Dan Uggla – Atlanta Braves
6. Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds
7. Ben Zobrist – Tampa Bay Rays
8. Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers
9. Gordon Beckham – Chicago White Sox
10. Aaron Hill – Toronto Blue Jays
11. Kelly Johnson – Arizona Diamondbacks
12. Danny Espinosa – Washington Nationals
13. Jason Kipnis – Cleveland Indians
14. Dustin Ackley – Seattle Mariners
15. Brett Lawrie – Toronto Blue Jays

Thoughts:

• Dustin Pedroia over Chase Utley?  I know it may seem a bit odd, but Pedroia is five years younger than Utley, who many people believe could be on the decline.  It’s hard to read too much into his 2010 struggles (.275, 16 HR, 65 RBI in 425 AB) as they easily could have been due to hip problems.  Of course, Pedroia and Ian Kinsler also have had injury concerns, but at his age you have to wonder how long Utley will be able to hold up.  His tremendous upside keeps him in the top three, but there is cause for concern.
• Martin Prado belongs on this list, but with Dan Uggla in town now it appears unlikely that he maintains 2B eligibility after 2011.  If you draft him keep in mind that he could regain the eligibility down the line at some point, but it’s hard to depend on it.
• Looking for Brian Roberts?  Considering his recent decline and age (33 years old), he falls just short for me.
• Unlike many other positions, there is a potential influx of talent coming to 2B.  We got a taste of what Danny Espinosa can bring to the table in 2010, and he is just the tip of the iceberg.  Jason Kipnis, Dustin Ackley and Brett Lawrie are a few of the names who could make their presence felt as soon as 2011 (though you don’t want to be drafting them as your starting option).  I may be in the minority, but I love the potential that Kipnis brings to the table.  Between Double- and Triple-A in 2010 he had 32 doubles, eight triples and 16 HR to go along with a .307 average and nine SB.  He has the potential to overtake Jason Donald quickly and brings tremendous upside.
• At this point Howie Kendrick has become a tremendous disappointment for fantasy owners.  Since he really doesn’t bring power or speed to the table, I ultimately decided to drop him out of the top 15.  At this point, I’d rather the upside of one of the up-and-coming options over a disappointing player we already know.
• Will Gordon Beckham finally realize his potential?  You have to love the power he could bring to the table from a position that you can’t always find it.

**** Make sure to order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out our 2011 rankings:

• Top 15 Catchers
• Top 15 First Basemen
• Top 15 Second Basemen
• Top 15 Shortstops
• Top 15 Third Basemen
• Top 30 Outfielders
• Top 30 Starting Pitchers
• Top 15 Closers
• 2011 Fantasy Draft First-Round Breakdown

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Atlanta Braves look like they are headed in a good direction after the signing of Dan Uggla, a scrappy power hitting right-handed second baseman.  The Braves definitely need some right-handed power in the middle of their order.  Someone like Uggla will increase production and also provide some protection for a youngster like Jason Heyward.

It looks like Uggla will bat fourth or fifth in the batting order, probably behind Brian McCann and Chipper Jones.  He’s also been told that he will play second base this season despite Martin Prado’s excellent year last season.  More than likely Prado will move to left field where last year the Braves needed some stability.

They have also acquired veteran pitchers Scott Linebrink and George Sherrill.  These signings will sure up their bullpen after the departure of Billy Wagner.  These veterans are going to have to be leaders in their bullpen and help lead young pitchers like Jonny Venters, Kris Medlen and Craig Kimbrel in the right direction.

It looks like the Braves won’t need to go out and get a fifth starter by the way Mike Minor pitched to finish the season, but if he struggles to produce in spring training, they also have a young pitcher by the name of Brandon Beachy that could steal the starting spot or could become a long reliever.  The pitcher they need to cut ties with is Kenshin Kawakami who has been trouble for the Atlanta Braves and has a substantial contract for the upcoming season.  They could use him to lure in a potential buyer willing to give up a good young outfielder in return.

The Braves need another outfielder to go along with Eric Hinske, Nate McLouth, Jason Heyward and Martin Prado.  There is a slight possibility that Prado will have to play first base if Freddie Freeman doesn’t excel in spring training.  There is a chance that the wrist he injured a while back may cut into the power production he had in the minors.  So with that in mind, the Braves could send Freeman back to the minors for another season to sharpen his skills.  If this happens, the Braves might be in the market for a first baseman but not as strongly as they will be for a fifth outfielder.

Also this off season the Braves hired former Marlins‘ coach Fredi Gonzalez to replace the great coach Bobby Cox after his retirement.  This move will hopefully continue the success Cox had for several years in Atlanta.  General Manager Frank Wren has expressed confidence in his new additions and new coach and feels the Braves should be able to compete not only with the Phillies but with other great teams.  He feels that these additions will boost the Braves right to the World Series.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2010-2011 MLB off season was one for the books. Whether it was news regarding Carl Crawford’s free agency or whether or not Zach Greinke would be traded, there was never a dull moment this winter for baseball fans. Very few teams remain in the same position as they were in November.

While there are still a handful of significant free agents still on the market such as Carl Pavano and Vladimir Guerrero, it is time to reflect on the unfolding of this winter. Which deals were the most significant? Who were the winners? Who is going to regret their aggressive behavior down the road?

In this article, I will examine the 25 most significant transactions from free agent signings to trades to re-signings. These transactions are not ranked based on how good the player(s) involved were, but how much the transaction will affect the team’s outcome. 

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Dan Uggla tends to be a rather polarizing player.  The people who like him really, really like him. 

The people who are not as high on him may not “hate” him, per se, but they devalue him based on the potential for a low average. 

The question is: are some people underappreciating the skill set that Uggla brings to the table?

Before we can fully answer that question, let’s take a look at what he accomplished in 2010:

589 At Bats
.287 Batting Average (169 Hits)
33 Home Runs
105 RBI
100 Runs
4 Stolen Bases
.369 On Base Percentage
.508 Slugging Percentage
.330 Batting Average on Balls in Play

It is clear that the power he showed is extremely realistic.  Over the past four seasons he’s posted years of 31, 32, 31 and 33.  You just don’t get that type of consistency from most players. 

Now in Atlanta, is it possible that he gets a little bit of an uptick in his power production? 

Let’s take a look at how he’s produced at Turner Field the past few years:

• 2008 – 31 AB, .484, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 12 R, 1 SB
• 2009 – 34 AB, .353, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 0 SB
• 2010 – 35 AB, .343, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB

Those numbers are certainly encouraging and helps make you believe that his numbers across the board could improve.

Over the past three years, he has hit a home run once every 14.3 AB at Turner Field.  In 2010 he was at a home run once every 17.8 AB. 

In other words, yes, he could easily see a slight increase in home run production, though I wouldn’t expect it to be by a huge amount.

If you think he is suddenly going to become a 40-45-plus home run hitter, it’s not likely going to happen.  I could easily see him hitting in the 36-37 range, however, but that’s about it.

So the power is likely going to remain consistent, with the potential for a little bit of improvement.  He also could easily maintain his RBI total from ’10, as he will be hitting in the middle of the Braves lineup along with Jason Heyward and Brian McCann.

Assuming he is hitting fifth, the runs will likely fall.  Still, you have to think that he’ll be in the 85-plus range, more than enough to be considered usable.  In 2010, there were only six second basemen who had at least 80 runs scored (five of whom actually reached 100).

The major question comes with his average, with which he has struggled in the past.  Last season he posted a solid mark, though it came courtesy of a lucky BABIP.  In fact, since his debut in 2006 he has traded strong years with poor years:

• 2006 – .282 (.309 BABIP)
• 2007 – .245 (.279 BABIP)
• 2008 – .260 (.320 BABIP)
• 2009 – .243 (.274 BABIP)
• 2010 – .287 (.330 BABIP)

What makes us think that he’s going to replicate a .280 average?  The problem is that he could just as easily regress to .250 or worse, as he has consistently shown throughout his career. 

When you strike out over 25 percent of the time (he’s at 26.0 percent for his career, though has had a year as poor as 32.2 percent), you always run that risk.  If the luck isn’t there, his average is going to suffer.

Put it all together and you get the following projection from me for 2011:

.263 (151-575), 34 HR, 90 RBI, 90 R, 3 SB, .299 BABIP, .356 OBP, .496 SLG

If he didn’t strike out quite as much, there wouldn’t be a debate about Uggla (my projection has him with a 26.09 percent strikeout rate).  It would just be a given that he was one of the elite players in the game.

But the strikeouts are always going to hang over him, allowing people to knock him down a notch or two.

However, the power alone makes him a top five option at a weaker position.  He’s consistently proven that he us a 30-plus home run hitter and, now that he is in Atlanta, he could even improve on that mark. 

I can understand being scared off based on the average (at least the potential for a poor average), but as long as he hits .260 or better, he’s not going to hurt you there. 

Don’t be scared off; he’s a player to target in all formats.

Which side of the fence do you fall on when it comes to Uggla?  Is he a player you love or hate?  Why do you feel as you do?

**** Make sure to pre-order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out some of our 2011 projections:

• Buchholz, Clay
• Butler, Billy
• Choo, Shin-Soo
• Ethier, Andre
• Freese, David
• Hughes, Phil
• Jaso, John
• Johnson, Chris
• Morrow, Brandon
• Reyes, Jose
• Willingham, Josh
• Young, Michael

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

If you had to name the three players in Major League Baseball who have been associated with the term “contract extension” over the past three or four seasons, who would you name? I would name Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez and Dan Uggla.

The first two I can understand. Pujols and Gonzalez are elite players. But Uggla?

Uggla is a very good player, but it seemed like ever since he came onto the baseball scene in the 2006 season, he has been mentioned for either a contract extension or a trade candidate. I guess that is the nature of the beast when you play for the Florida Marlins.

What’s funny is after spending almost four years talking about an Uggla trade or extension, he got both in a span of three months. Uggla was traded from the Marlins to the Atlanta Braves in November, and now he gets his extension.

The Braves officially signed Uggla to a five-year, $62 million contract on Thursday. Uggla will earn $9 million in salary and a $1 million signing bonus in 2011, and he’ll earn $13 million annually from 2012-15, according to Dave O’Brien.

Over his career, Uggla has averaged a .263/.349/.488 hitting line with 31 HRs. Over the last three seasons, only Chase Utley and Dustin Pedroia have had a total WAR as a second baseman higher than Uggla (12.5). He is a legit All-Star second baseman.

The question with Uggla has always been whether or not he will stay at second base for the rest of his career. Over the last three seasons, only Skip Schumaker has a worse UZR than Uggla at second base. Roberto Alomar he is not.

There is a good chance Uggla could move to third or even the outfield in the later years of this contract. However, Uggla doesn’t strike me as a guy who will be willing to move so easily.

Even at 31 years old and with his poor defensive numbers, Uggla should outperform the $62 million he is going to get from the Braves over the next five years. Looking at his peripherals such as K Percentage, BB Percentage or wOBA, nothing stands out that would suggest he is due for a steep decline over the next couple of years.

Uggla’s extension is the highest average annual salary for a second baseman in baseball history.

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Since 2006, second baseman Dan Uggla has hit 154 home runs.

The only person to hit more over that time is Albert Pujols.

Now, the Atlanta Braves are hoping for more of the same from the 30 year old right-handed hitter.

Uggla and the Braves agreed officially today on a five-year, $62 million extension, which will keep the second baseman through the rest of his prime years as a major leaguer.

This was a huge step for the Braves, as Uggla would have been eligible to become a free agent after this upcoming season. It was also important for the Braves to make a long term deal because Uggla brings something that Braves haven’t had much of in recent seasons: A power hitter from the right hand side and really a true power hitter period.

Uggla is coming off a season in which he won his first Silver Slugger award, having hit .287 with 33 homers and105 RBI. All three of those numbers were career highs, and it looks like he may be hitting a his stride heading into the 2011 season.

His average was 44 points high than it was the year before, so that could be expected to drop down to more of the .260-.275 range, but Uggla has hit at least 30 homers in all but one season in his short career, the exception being his rookie year, when he hit 27.

So, what can Braves fans expect from Uggla?

I’d say somewhere in the .270, 30-homer, 90- to 100-RBI range, which would be a welcome number from an offense that has lacked the big time power hitter since the departure of Andruw Jones.

Uggla is solid at second base defensively, but is one-of-a-kind from the plate at the position, giving him huge value.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Once one of the weaker positions in the league, second base has seen an increase in talent in recent years and there is more talent yet to come. 

Let’s take a look at how the rankings currently stand, though by year’s end there is the potential that the list will look drastically different:

1. Robinson Cano – New York Yankees
2. Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
3. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
4. Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers
5. Dan Uggla – Atlanta Braves
6. Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds
7. Martin Prado – Atlanta Braves
8. Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers
9. Ben Zobrist – Tampa Bay Rays
10. Aaron Hill – Toronto Blue Jays
11. Brian Roberts – Baltimore Orioles
12. Kelly Johnson – Arizona Diamondbacks
13. Gordon Beckham – Chicago White Sox
14. Howie Kendrick – Los Angeles Angels
15. Chone Figgins – Seattle Mariners

Thoughts:

• I recently gave my thoughts on Gordon Beckham, which you can check out by clicking here.  The bottom line with him is that there is some risk involved, but he came on strong in the second half and should be a good buy as a middle infielder or low-risk option.
• On mlb.com (click here for the article), the Brewers’ new manager, Ron Roenicke, was recently quoted as saying, “At times, you’re going to say, ‘Why are you running so much? Why are you getting thrown out trying to take extra bases?’”  That brings hope for Rickie Weeks potentially reaching the 20/20 plateau, something that was basically impossible under the old regime as they rarely were active on the base paths.  It certainly gives him a boost up in our rankings.
• Since the last time I did the rankings, Uggla has been dealt to Atlanta.  It certainly doesn’t change his value much in either direction.  Joining Brian McCann and Jason Heyward in the middle of the order, it’s very possible he will exceed 30 home runs for the fifth straight season (almost a given) while going 90/90 as well.
• Speaking of Atlanta, Martin Prado will be shifting to the outfield while maintaining his eligibility at 2B and 3B (and 1B if you play in a league that only requires 5 games played for eligibility).  You have to love that type of flexibility.
• There are several young second basemen who could make an impact in 2011 including Dustin Ackley (click here for my thoughts), Brett Lawrie (click here for my thoughts) and Jason Kipnis (click here for my thoughts).

What are your thoughts on the rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

**** Make sure to pre-order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out our 2011 rankings:

• Top 15 Catchers
• Top 15 First Basemen
• Top 15 Third Basemen
• Top 15 Shortstops
• Top 30 Outfielders
• Top 20 Starting Pitchers
• Top 15 Closers
• 2011 Fantasy Draft First Round Breakdown

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

This past year presented Atlanta Braves fans with plenty of moments to relish.

This was the first time the Braves had reached the playoffs since 2005 and was the final season for venerable manager Bobby Cox.

But, I’m staying away from those topics for this slideshow.

Instead, I’m focusing on singular moments over the course of the calendar year that Braves fans will be talking about for years to come rather than events that involved a culmination of years/months of dedicated work to draw their fanfare.

So, without further adieu, my top-five moments for the Atlanta Braves for 2010.

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The five teams in the National League East, the Phillies, Braves,  Marlins, Mets and Nationals, have all had busy off-seasons trying to improve their clubs. Some have been more successful than others. And some, like the Phillies and Mets, are moving very slowly through the free agent and trade possibilities.

Here is a countdown of the top 10 moves so far within the division and a breakdown of potential future moves for each team.

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