According to one general manager who spoke to the Marlins during the GM meetings, trading Dan Uggla is Florida's number one offseason priority. There's plenty of interest in Uggla. Baltimore, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Boston are all rumored destinations for the Marlins second baseman. Those four teams alone make up a decent market for the Marlins second baseman. In return, the Marlins would want cheap, young talent. No shock there. Either Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan could move back to his natural position or Emilio Bonifacio could replace Uggla. The Marlins have in-house options ready to replace Uggla. There's no concern about finding one anywhere else, leaving the Marlins to stockpile more young talent.

It seems as if there's no problem. Right? Wrong. Trading Uggla might not be as easy as it seems. San Francisco and Baltimore are interested in Uggla as a third baseman. The Braves could have him play left field. Boston is using him as a backup plan if they can't resign Jason Bay. Uggla's agent does not like that. Jeff Borris explained his client would resist a move to third base or the outfield. Uggla has no real leverage in the trade situation, but Borris' words could chill the market for his client.

Danny Uggla's been a full-time second baseman for the last four years. He's performed exceptionally well at the position. Although he has the athleticism to play other positions, he's performed remarkably over these four years at second base and there should be no reason to consider a position change at this time.

In attempting to talk up his client, Jeff Borris hurt Uggla more than a little bit. If other teams know Uggla will pout upon being asked to play third base, they have no incentive to trade for him. The Marlins would be stuck with him for the time being. This information doesn't make Uggla untradeable, it just makes it a tougher proposition. With arbitration expected to help Uggla's salary climb this offseason, the Marlins can no longer afford him and must trade him.

As Keith Law put it, there are two ways to look at this situation. On one hand, Uggla gets paid well to play whichever position his team asks him to play. But on the other, Uggla's a more valuable bat at second base than at the other positions. Uggla's glove is more suited to second base. His offensive skills are more valuable relative to the norm at second base. Uggla can use his position preference for when he becomes a free agent in 2011.

Uggla's preference is to play second base. It's understandable. He's played that position full-time for the last four seasons. He's comfortable there. But Borris makes it seem like Uggla's never played at any other position and that a switch would be the first of his career. Uggla doesn't just have the athleticism to play other positions, he has in fact played other positions. In the minors, Uggla played 220 games at third base and 20 in the outfield. Uggla committed 16 errors at second base last season and committed 55 total during his four "remarkable" seasons at the position. In the minors, he committed 51 errors at second base and 48 at third base. There'd need to be some readjustment, but Uggla can play either position. The perceived barrier to a trade isn't as great as it sounds. Uggla would prefer to play second base, but the reality is that he can also play third base or outfield. A move probably dilutes his offensive skills when compared to other players, but he'll still perform well.

The Marlins can't let the words of Uggla's agent deter them from moving him. Uggla is one of the hottest names on the trade market. The Marlins need to act while his value is high.

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