Flotsam and Jetsam

“Marlins Willing to Pay Big for Uggla’s Power,” from an AP writer.

Naturally, I clicked on the link excitedly thinking that I’d somehow missed news of the team finally offering a multiyear, big-dollar contract for Uggla.

The article is referring to his arbitration win. Here’s a fun excerpt:

The Marlins’ annual paring of the payroll sent Josh Willingham, Mike Jacobs and Scott Olsen elsewhere this offseason. But Uggla’s back.

I’m not really that surprised, he said. "I actually had a really good feeling that I would be back. I don’t know why.

Maybe it’s because he knows the Marlins appreciate power from a middle infielder.

Yes, that’s what it must be. Thankfully the team didn’t trade the aforesaid Olsen for a replacement second baseman. Thankfully the team hasn’t made Speed ‘n’ Defense their new mantra. Thankfully Uggla isn’t universally acknowledged to be out the door before season’s end.

And how ‘bout that title? The Marlins “willing to pay big bucks” for Uggla, eh? Considering they went to arbitration with him in the first place to keep his salary lower? And how about that humiliating refusal to even consider a long-term contract—which led poor Dan to actually say he’d be happy with a “crappy offer” just to know the team wanted him.

Lord, what a stupid article.