Dan Uggla

The Washington Nationals' moves this offseason have them poised to challenge for a World Series title immediately, but life goes on beyond 2015, and so do the careers of the team's latest acquisitions.

After an especially painful season in the batter's box for Dan Uggla, the Atlanta Braves have released the struggling second baseman.

The team's official Twitter account confirmed the news:

Not every MLB player is looking forward to 2014. For some, the new season represents a pivotal juncture in their respective careers.

This is of course called a “make-or-break season.” While some players like Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Ryan Howard appear to be albatrosses, their contractual security is paramount to their 2014 production.

Dan Uggla's struggles are no secret for Atlanta Braves fans.

Hitting .227 with 55 home runs and 160 RBI in his two years with the Braves, Uggla hasn't exactly lived up to his five-year, $62-million contract.

Which raises the question: How long of a leash does Uggla have this year?

It would be misleading to characterize second base as a position of scarcity in 2012.

Yes, there are no certifiable facsimiles of Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia, Rickie Weeks, Chase Utley, Ben Zobrist, Brandon Phillips or Dan Uggla after the first 60 picks of a 12-team, mixed-league draft.

Although baseball's dark days of syringes and suspicious trainers seem to be behind us, the long ball is still alive and well. There are plenty of guys who make their living going yard and spend their afternoons trotting. 

But if we had to build a team of the league's best sluggers, what would it look like? We wouldn't look solely at a player who's a feast-or-famine hitter, would we? 

You want a guy who can take it deep but isn't always looking for the long ball, even at the expense of his own team. 

The Phillies come into this year as preseason favorites to reach their third World Series in the last four years, and with good reason.

The Atlanta Braves finished the 2010 regular season with a 91-71 record, which was good enough to claim the National League Wild Card. They lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to the eventual World Series Champion San Francisco Giants in four games with every game being a one-run affair.

New manager Fredi Gonzalez replaces the legendary Bobby Cox and has a roster that should be in the playoff mix again.

Let's take a look at player-by-player projections for the 2011 Braves based on the probable Opening Day lineup.

The purpose of Value Picks is to point out some names that have not been getting the attention they deserve on draft day. The focus of this article will be finding value at a thin position, second base.

1. Dan Uggla—Currently ranked No. 34 by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Last Season’s Statistics: