Atlanta Braves suspend Dan Uggla for one game

Dan Uggla‘s lack of production at the plate has already pushed him from the Atlanta Braves’ starting lineup, but it seems he could be putting himself into a more precarious position with the organization as each day passes. While a large segment of the team’s fan base is already calling for him to be designated for assignment and released, Uggla has now been suspended by the team for one game. He will not play Sunday, the final day before the All Star Break.

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution first reported Sunday morning that the team had recalled infielder Phil Gosselin from Triple-A following Saturday’s game. O’Brien speculated that the corresponding move might be an Uggla designation, but he quickly learned that the struggling second baseman has instead been suspended by the team.

Uggla has managed a mere .162/.241/.231 line in 145 plate appearances on the year and has seen his production steadily decline since arriving in Atlanta for the 2011 season. As a Brave he’s hit just .209/.317/.391 over the past four seasons, with just 79 home runs. During his five years with the Marlins he’d averaged 31 a season.

There’s little reason to think that the Braves will be able to trade Uggla at this point. He’s owed the remainder of a $13 Million salary for this season and is under contract for the same amount next year, a sum that most teams just simply won’t be willing to take on. The Braves have been hesitant to eat a portion of that contract to facilitate a move stemming all the way back to Spring Training reports that he was being shopped. That has limited his potential suitors. Given his non-existent production on the field, it’s hard to see even a team in dire need of help at second base taking a chance on him at that cost.