The Florida Marlins and the agent of infielder Dan Uggla, Terry Bross of Gaylord Sports Management, are discussing a multi-year contract to keep Uggla in South Beach for some time, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.

Earlier this week, we heard the talks had started, but the two sides were far apart. At the time, it was reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that the Marlins were willing to pay in the three-year, $30 million range, but that’s less than Uggla’s agent wants. Today, Bross says the talks were “preliminary.”

Uggla currently is making $7.8 million. He will be in the final year for salary arbitration for 2011, and could expect a one-year salary around $10 million. He can be a free agent starting in 2012.

Teams tend to negotiate contract extensions for star players before their arbitration eligibility runs out. In exchange for the long-term security, players will sign contracts slightly below open-market value and giving up their final years of arbitration eligibility and beginning years of free agency.

Uggla is in the middle of the best season of his career. He’s batting .284 with 26 home runs and 72 RBIs.