Florida Marlins agree with Uggla ($7.8M), Sanchez ($1.25M) and Pinto ($1.075M)

Marlins agree with Uggla, Sanchez, Pinto

MIAMI — The Florida Marlins spent some more money Monday, agreeing to a $7.8 million, one-year contract with second baseman Dan Uggla and reaching deals with pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Renyel Pinto.

The frugal Marlins, under pressure from the players’ association, agreed last week to increase their payroll from last year’s $37.5 million, the major league low. Two days later, they agreed to a $39 million, four-year contract with pitcher Josh Johnson, a deal the team still has not announced.

Sanchez’s contract is for $1.25 million. Pinto got $1,075,000.

The Marlins may yet reduce their payroll by trading Uggla, who hit .243 with a team-high 31 homers and 90 RBIs last year. His agent, Jeff Borris, said the contract agreement doesn’t necessarily mean Uggla will be with the Marlins when the season begins.

“I don’t think this increases or decreases the chances,” Borris said. “It’s no secret they have been trying to trade him.”

Negotiations toward a one-year contract for Uggla began last month and did not accelerate with the Marlins’ public pledge to spend more, Borris said. He said the team wasn’t interested in a multiyear agreement.

“I had discussed the concept of doing a multiyear deal, and they said they had no intention of doing that,” Borris said.

Uggla defeated Florida in arbitration last winter, when he was awarded a salary of $5.35 million rather than the team’s offer of $4.4 million.

Sanchez, who pitched a no-hitter against Arizona as a rookie in September 2006, was 4-8 with a 3.87 ERA in 16 starts last year. He was sidelined from May 8 to June 1 with a sprained right shoulder, made one appearances and then went back on the DL until Aug. 20 with the same injury.