Former Marlin to Braves

The Atlanta Braves officially announced that they have given Dan Uggla a five-year, $62 million contract extension that could keep the second baseman in Atlanta through the end of the 2015 season.  Uggla, a former Florida Marlin, was excited about the opportunity to play close to his friends and family members who still live in his hometown in Tennessee.

Uggla was in position to exit as one of the more attractive pieces available via the free-agent market next winter. But he immediately made it known that he'd enjoy the opportunity to remain in Atlanta for more than one season. The Braves targeted Uggla to serve as the powerful right-handed bat that they needed in the middle of their lineup. He has hit at least 30 homeruns in each of his past four seasons, and the 154 homeruns he has compiled over the past five seasons are 20 more than the total amount of any other Major League second baseman.

New Addition to Texas: Adrian Beltre

The Texas Rangers' big free-agent purchase of the offseason is close to being completed. Get ready for Adrian Beltre to take over for Michael Young as the Rangers' third baseman. Sources said the deal is not completed, but the two sides have worked out the framework of a six-year, $96 million contract after extensive negotiations between the team and Beltre's agent, Scott Boras, over the past two days. There are still details to be negotiated, and Beltre will have to pass a physical before the deal is officially done. The contract is also expected to have a clause that will allow the Rangers to void the last year of the deal if Beltre fails to reach a certain number of plate appearances. The Rangers negotiated a similar clause in Kevin Millwood's contract five years ago.

More Signings and Contracts...

The New York Yankees have agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent catcher Russell Martin, just this past week. New York beat out Boston and Toronto to obtain Martin, who belonged to the Dodgers this past season. Russell Martin is deemed among the best catchers in the National League from 2007 to 2008, when he was a back-to-back All-Star while compiling a .286 batting average, .380 on-base percentage and 32 homeruns. But after a down year in 2009, when he compiled a .250 batting average, Martin played 97 games in 2010 and then missed the rest of the season with a broken right hip. The Yankees expect Martin to be in the best of shape before the next season starts because they are depending on him, as well as the rest of the team, to perform to the best of their capabilities.

Angels Gain Back Matsui?

The Los Angeles Angels and free agent Hideki Matsui neared completion of a one-year contract on Sunday, sending the all-star back to where he came from. Matsui, a 36-year-old left-handed hitter, would be expected to serve as the club's designated hitter. Although no decision was made at the time, the deal will develop over this weekend and could be finalized as early as today, Monday. Matsui spent last season as the Angels' designated hitter, his first season on the West Coast after seven years with the Yankees. He has 161 home runs and a .290 average in his career. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 World Series, won by New York over Philadelphia.

Minnesota "Renovates"

The Minnesota Twins have said throughout the offseason that one of their goals has been to add speed to their lineup, and the one area where they felt they could do that was in the middle infield. The Twins' desire to go in that direction became clear when it posted the winning bid for exclusive negotiating rights with speedy Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka last month. And the Twins solidified that thought on Thursday when they closed out the Winter Meetings by trading shortstop J.J. Hardy to the Orioles. The deal sent Hardy, infielder Brendan Harris and $500,000 cash to Baltimore in exchange for two right-handed Minor League pitchers, Brett Jacobson and Jim Hoey. The trade didn't come as a surprise considering that Hardy's future had been up in the air ever since the Twins had placed the winning bid for Nishioka. In addition to working to bring the speedy, switching-hitting infielder to Minnesota, the Twins had said that they would like to give Alexi Casilla a chance at a starting job in the middle infield. Hopefully, the Twins can prepare their newly renovated team before the start of the next season.

Konerko Sticks with the Sox

Paul Konerko recently received an offer to remain with the Chicago White Sox for a three-year, $37.5 million deal. Konerko, 35, will acquire $12 million in 2011 and 2012 and $13.5 million in 2013. Of that $13.5 million, Paul Konerko will receive $6.5 million in 2013 and the remaining $7 million will be deferred ($1 million per year from 2014-2020). Although the man known as "King" was fully expected to continue his Southern reign in Chicago to what will total to around 15 years, this deal looked to have hit a major snag. White Sox general manager Ken Williams told the media how his level of optimism wasn't nearly as high as when he arrived in Florida for Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings with the number one concern of bringing back Konerko. Paul Konerko is a well-rounded player that the Sox would suffer without, so gaining him back will most definitely benefit the team as a whole.

White Sox Gain Adam Dunn

One of the offseason priorities for the White Sox soon could be fulfilled through the free-agent signing of Adam Dunn, who agreed to a four-year deal worth $56 million, pending a physical. Dunn had expressed a desire to do more than simply serve as designated hitter, but Dunn also could see time at first base for the White Sox, even if free agent Paul Konerko returns. Adam Dunn, reportedly was looking for a four-year, $60 million deal, and with the White Sox already committed to $81 million through 13 players, (not to mention arbitration increases due to John Danks, Carlos Quentin and Tony Pena) bringing in Dunn seemed less likely at that asking price.