Meet the hitters who are less productive than Dan Uggla

By Aaron GleemanSep 3, 2012, 3:15 PM EST
24 Comments

Dan Uggla has been benched by Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez after hitting .152 in 74 games since June 6, which is remarkably awful production for a remarkably long time.

However, during that three-month stretch Uggla didn’t even have the lowest OPS in baseball. In fact, among hitters with at least 200 plate appearance since June 6 he doesn’t have one of the 10 worst OPS totals:

                    OPS
Justin Smoak       .465
Josh Thole         .506
Rafael Furcal      .551
Jeff Francoeur     .553
J.J. Hardy         .564
Daniel Descalso    .574
Brian Bogusevic    .575
Jemile Weeks       .576
Gregor Blanco      .578
Clint Barmes       .579
Brian Dozier       .579
DAN UGGLA          .580

Some pretty big–or at least recognizable–names on that list, although one key difference with Uggla is that a) he’s also a poor defender at second base, and b) he’s making $13 million while being owed another $39 million for the next three seasons.

White Sox won’t make bid for Bryce Harper

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
By Bill BaerFeb 21, 2019, 6:15 PM EST
11 Comments

The White Sox won’t make a bid for free agent outfielder Bryce Harper, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reports. Believed to be the favorites to land shortstop Manny Machado in free agency, the White Sox watched him ink a 10-year, $300 million contract with the Padres. The club is apparently content with its roster otherwise.

Harper would certainly be an upgrade in the outfield, which currently features Adam Engel, Nicky Delmonico, and Jon Jay. It will soon feature prospects Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert.

Last season, Harper hit .249/.393/.496 with 34 hom eruns, 100 RBI, 103 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases in 695 plate appearances. He led all of baseball, drawing 130 walks. Harper is also a six-time All-Star who won the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year Award and the 2015 NL Most Valuable Player Award.

The Phillies are still believed to be the favorites to sign Harper and the club is confident it will land him, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.