Giants Officially Release Uggla After Failed Second Base Experiment
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - The San Francisco Giants have officially cut loose veteran Dan Uggla after he failed to provide the needed production to hang on to the team's second base job.
The Giants' translation page indicates he was officially released Thursday, about two weeks after they signed the free agent and brought him up to the big league club after a minor league pitstop in Fresno. The Giants have seen extremely low offensive production out of the second base position this season, but Uggla failed to be the answer to that problem, going 0-12 with six strikeouts in his brief time in a Giants uniform.
The team Designated Uggla for assignment last week, but he reportedly refused a demotion back to the minors and was let go by the club. Uggla had been a three-time all-star as a power hitting middle infielder over an eight year career in Atlanta and Florida, but has seen a steady decline in his batting average in recent years.
The Giants recently have had some success playing 2011 first round pick Joe Panik, normally a shortstop, at the second base spot. The 23-year-old has a .261 average in 28 games during his rookie campaign, including hits in the last four games.
