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After giving Hanley Ramirez a six-year, $70 million extension, the Marlins announced thatre they we done handing out multi-year deals ... which makes you wonder what Dan Uggla has to do to catch their attention. After hitting 27 and 31 home runs his first two years in the league, Uggla is currently on pace for 50 dingers this season, hitting .316 in the process.

Even if he falls off his torrid pace, he's almost certainly a lock to join Alfonso Soriano, Jeff Kent and Roger Hornsby as the only second basemen to hit at least 27 home runs in three or more seasons. Needless to say, that's pretty elite company. So why does Ramirez get all the long-term love while Uggla lives from year to year?

Only the Marlins know for sure, but it seems to me Uggla's pedigree is still being held against him. Originally a lowly 11th-round pick by the D'Backs in 2001, Uggla was blocked in Arizona's organization -- he was older than most of his competition as a 25-year-old in Double-A in 2005, and he was left off the 40-man roster the following winter.

The Marlins rolled the dice and made him a Rule 5 pick in 2006, and even though he's done nothing but produce at an All-Star caliber level ever since, it's like they're still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I don't think it ever will, and if the Marlins don't wise up and lock him up now, they probably won't be able to afford him when he does hit the open market.