PHILADELPHIA -- The Giants will try to catch lightning in a bottle with another struggling veteran. Dan Uggla was signed to a minor league contract Monday and will report to the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies after taking a physical.

Uggla, 34, was hitting .162 with a .241 on-base percentage, .231 slugging percentage and two homers when he was released by the Atlanta Braves last week. Uggla has seven 20-homer seasons in the big leagues, but his numbers have tailed off in recent years. He hit .179 in 448 at-bats for the Braves last season but did manage 22 homers. Uggla's tenure with the Braves didn't end well; he was benched and then suspended a game after reportedly showing up late one afternoon.

The Giants have gotten little production at second base. Brandon Hicks, an Uggla clone, hit eight early homers and then slumped so badly that he was sent to Triple-A. Marco Scutaro has been able to start only two of six games since returning from a back injury, and the Giants are not confident that Scutaro's health will improve. Joaquin Arias and rookies Ehire Adrianza and Joe Panik have struggled at the plate.
