MLB Trade Rumors 2014: Atlanta Braves Could Trade Dan Uggla After Spring Training

The Atlanta Braves are still looking to trade Dan Uggla, and recent reports indicated that the team is hoping the second baseman will draw interest from several teams after spring training.

The Braves have been shopping the 33-year-old second baseman for the past several weeks, but they can't find any takers mainly because of Uggla's well-documented struggles last season.

Uggla batted just .179 last season. The eight-year veteran has been struggling since being acquired by the Braves in 2011. He batted .233 in his first year in Atlanta and .220 in his second season with the team.

Teams are also shying away from trading for Uggla because of his bloated contract, as he is set to earn $13 million in each of the last two years of his contract.

But despite Uggla's well-documented struggles and unattractive contract, the Braves are still hoping that the former Memphis standout will show signs of improvement in spring training after undergoing LASIK surgery to correct his vision.

"If he does show signs of real progress at spring training, after getting accustomed to his LASIK-corrected vision and working on whatever it is he's worked on with his swing in the offseason, then the Braves might possibly be able to trade him to a team that either has an injury at second base during spring training or just decides it's not comfortable with the options it has," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted.

Previous rumors indicated that the Braves were close to trading Uggla to the Seattle Mariners for Dustin Ackley, but MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports refuted the rumor. The Braves are not looking to trade Uggla for another second baseman, he said. 

Sources said that should the Braves find a taker for Uggla, the team will settle with their in-house alternatives: Tyler Pastornicky, Ramiro Pena, and Tommy La Stella.

Pastornicky is projected as the Braves' main option at second base, but the team is also expected to give strong consideration to Pena and La Stella, who have shown significant improvements over the past two years.