ATLANTA (AP) - Second baseman Dan Uggla and the Atlanta Braves finalized a $62 million, five-year contract Thursday that avoided salary arbitration.
Uggla receives a $1 milllion signing bonus, $9 million this year and $13 million in each of the following four seasons.
The 30-year-old was acquired from Florida in November for infielder Omar Infante and left-hander Mike Dunn. The two-time All-Star turned down a $24 million, three-year offer from the Marlins last summer.
Uggla batted .287 with 33 homers and 105 RBIs last season, when he made $7.8 million. Without the new deal, he would have become a free agent after the 2011 World Series.
He has averaged 31 homers, 100 runs scored and 93 RBIs over his five-year career.
By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
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