Justin Upton's no-trade protection enables him to block trades to the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Indians. The Yankees have checked in on Upton, but there doesn't seem to be much traction between the two teams. Here's the latest on Upton, who collected three hits against the Reds last night…
- Agent Larry Reynolds told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that Upton hasn’t ruled out the possibility of accepting a trade to a team on his no-trade list (Twitter link). If nothing else, the no-trade list provides Upton and Reynolds with some potential leverage.
- The Pirates have stayed in contact with the Diamondbacks about Upton, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. So far Pirates GM Neal Huntington has refused to part with outfield prospect Starling Marte or pitching prospect Jameson Taillon in trade talks, Morosi writes.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney spoke with more officials who are convinced the Diamondbacks will trade Upton.
- The Blue Jays are interested in Upton, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported today.
- The Pirates and Diamondbacks are having trouble matching up on a trade because Arizona is seeking a shortstop, tweets Olney.
So the Pirates want to get Upton, but don’t want to give up Gerrit Cole, Taillon, or Marte? Are they offering a bag of beans for him?
If you look more closely at Upton’s numbers, a bag of beans is probably on the high side of his true value.
4th in MVP voting last year. Ok?
Which only serves to reinforce my belief that most sports writers and announcers know less about baseball than the average housewife.
It’s not an objective measure of anything, it’s opinion and nothing more.
How about a 150 game average of 4.0 WAR since 2008? Those are some valuable beans.
Overreact much?
Not as it relates to the Pirates and their interest in Upton. Taking a right handed hitter who only hits well in the second friendliest hitters ball park in the majors and moving him to a the third least hitter friendly park and one that cripples right handers home run power would be an unmitigated disaster.
Giving up top prospects to inflict that sort of damage on themselves would be unimaginably harmful to both the near term and long term success of the franchise.
Make a trade, give up some top prospects if need be, but for god sake make sure the player you get in return can actually help the team and fits into the Park you play your home games at.
Jason Bay sure seemed to hit home runs at PNC.
Except it’s not, Upton’s been one of the 10 best OF’s the last 4 years and is worth cole or taillon+ the chances of Marte having even close to the career Upton is on pace on is less than 1%
In the opinion of some, but the numbers say otherwise and the numbers don’t lie. 31 home runs in 2011, 20 in 291 at bats at Chase Field, 11 in 301 at bats on the road …
That’s mostly park effect not hitting ability.
Lots of teams got cheated trading for what they thought were power hitters from Colorado once too, but GMs who know how to dig a little deeper into the numbers have wised up since then.
Except the park while extreme doesn’t effect hitters as much as the stats say it does for Upton, in other words Upton’s been a bit lucky at home and unlucky on the road, he has randomly legitimately hit better at home without the park effects, similar to what carlos gonzalez’s career numbers say.
quite the hater seeing as mccutchen has just about the same career numbers, and a similar contract. though he his a much better outfielder.
That’s a ridiculous statement!
The Pirates should be talking about their other prospects that are second tier as if they are unattainable, such as Cain, Holt and Curry. If they self marketed what they drafted, Hunt might be able to build a decent package without giving up the farm.
Alen Hanson is likely a top 50 prospect now too, they could build a package around him and/or the Bell/Heredia/Grossman tier if the Dbacks were interested.
If the Pirates want Upton, I think they could get him. They have the talent to do it without destroying their team too. I would think that Pedro Alvarez, Gorkys Hernandez, and Jameson Tallion for Justin Upton and Ryan Roberts would be a great deal for both sides. The Pirates keep Cole and Marte, get a new 3B man that’s under team control, keep a LF platoon with Jones/Sutton. It’s the aggressive move that the Pirates need to make to show they are serious about winning.
The D Backs get a top of the rotation arm, an everyday, young 3B man with power, and a young outfield prospect. They aren’t going to get more anywhere else.
I say Upton, Chris Young, Ryan Roberts Pedro Alvarez, Starling Marte, Tallion.
ha! you do know a left handed power hitting 3rd basemen is more rare than upton…. not happening.
why would they need more SP?
So a team in contention for a playoff spot should trade its every day 3B, who also has the 3rd highest OPS on the team amongst every day players…plus their top prospect…for a replacement level 3B and an OF with a lesser OPS than the major league player the Pirates would be giving up?
Makes sense.
lmao really? every day 3b? same guy with a .229 career clip, an OPS 100 points lower than uptons career OPS, barely over .300 obp ANDDD he strikes out more than 1/3 of the time. Oh and he is the worst defensive 3B in the NL. all this while being demoted/injured over the course of 3 seasons. Thats your everyday guy?.. really dude.. really
Pedro Alvarez plays 3B for the Pirates. Every. Day. Really, dude.
He’s Top 10 in the NL in HRs and RBI and also has the 2nd fewest ABs per HR to go along with a 2.3 WAR.
He’s hit .300 over the last 30 days and drawn double digit walks in each of the past two months after having a miserable two in April. That led to a .356 OBP in June.
He’s not Brooks Robinson, but you could do a lot worse than Pedro at 3B. He has a high amount of errors, but according to Baseball Reference he has the 4th best range factor among NL 3B and the guy has a canon for an arm.
I love how a string of 30 games convinces so many people of so many things… Pedro had an amazing june, no doubt. Im so proud. Thats awesome. But the fact that your sticking point is double digit walks in a month is reaching. He still strikes out a ton, and hasnt gotten any better. and he continues to decline everrrr so slightly with the glove. I dont care if his range is that of scott rolens in his prime.. an error every 5 games is turrrible. he is significantly below the avg fld pct at his position. Last year Upton was top 10 in slugging, XBH, runs, runs created, times on base(top 5 in most) while slugging a miniscule .529. Just dont understand why pirates fans of all people are worried about prospects and the future all of a sudden. Finally got a good team, and good management in place. a great chance to win the division, a player who will instantly become the 2nd best player on the team, no doubt about it. Anddddd he is the best player on the market
ypu forgot to mention 2nd in the ML in errors!! 30 games certainly doesnt make a season, or a career. he still strikes out just as much as he did as a rookie. His glove gets worse and worse, his fielding pct is .935 for his career. The AVERAGE ML 3B is at .953. an error every 5 games, coupled with his impressive 34.4% K rate. I actually really like him as a player, but im not a pirates fan so i have 0 reason to BS. Upton would be the 2nd best player on the pirates, starting now. pittsburgh is desperate for the playoffs. especially a division. Not getting there by holding onto prospects with an ETA of 2015
That wasn’t my point, though. Upton would be the 2nd best or THE best player on many teams, I’m not arguing that. He is most certainly better than Pedro Alvarez. I just said that it didn’t make sense to give up a part of the major league roster to add to the major league roster. Especially, not when Pedro has been producing for the most extended period of his career thus far and is still very much a part of the Pirates’ future. And as of today, this very minute, probably the better source of offense than Upton. Long run? Probably not. This particular season? You could make a case.
If u dont think Upton+Roberts for Alvarez added to the 2012 pirates makes them better, you are clearly smoking bath salts. my point was hypothetically adding roberts and upton for alvarez and their top prospect would be retarded for the d-backs. And if Upton has “diminished” value, then on that same scale alvarez’ value would be currently higher than ever. yet u say certainly upton is more impactful. As bad as i have said pedro is on D, upton isnt any better so thats a wash. So why would pittsburgh even mention trading the combined reincarnations of rolen’s range/chipper’s swing/ and glaus power?? The last thing the snakes need is another mark reynolds roaming 3rd anyways. alvarez is a good player, again i do like him and think he will pan out for more than a month sometime in the future
So the list of teams that he can block trades to suggests that he has changed the teams in which he has no trade for. Is this accurate? There isn’t much information on Cot’s about how/when he can do that sort of thing.
It’s not 100% accurate as his agent, Larry Reynolds, never confirmed it when he was asked yesterday.
Anthopoulous: “Hey, Josh, so I’m interested about this Upton character you seemingly have available. What’s your price?”
Towers: “Lawrie, Hechavarria, Rasmus, Sanchez, and Syndergaard.”
Anthopoulous: “Okay… have fun with that.”
Towers: “Wait, did I ask for Bautista too? If I didn’t, be sure to add him to the list.”
(click)
It would end at Lawrie…the rest of the list is moot.
Lawrie, Bautista, Romero, and d’Arnaud are prob. untouchable.
A package centered around Gose and Hechavarria seems more likely.
Well yes, the list is exaggerated, as I’m sure people could see. But my point still stands: all the evidence points to Towers asking for a Gio Gonzalez-type overpay, and I’m not so sure Towers moves him for less unless the owners really force his hand.
As such, I don’t see the Jays participating in this trade, unless the price comes down.
I would think Kevin Towers would just hang up right away after being called Josh.
+1
why would anyone “like” that?
uhm ken… the jays are interested in everyone lol.
It’s very troubling to hear that the Pirates have any interest in Upton, a speed guy who’s OPS out side Chase field the last two season’s is around .720, but somewhat heartening to hear they won’t entertain the thought of giving up anything of value for such a weak bat.
Is this a serious remark? A speed guy? He has had only 1 season where he hit less HRs than he had SBs. When he had 17 and 18 respectively. He’s also only 24 years old.
Upton is really talented and has the potential to be a legit cleanup hitter. As you point out, he’s only 24. However
Upton is currently on pace for his second <2 WAR season in the past 3 years and is owed ~$40M over the next 3+ years. He also benefits from the launching pad ballpark in Arizona. Even in his monster 2011, Upton had just a .767 OPS away from Chase. Giving up a Top-10 pitching prospect (Taillon) and a Top-50 OF plus the other complimentary pieces that this deal might take scares me.
I would bet a significant amount of money that Justin Upton generates at least 2 WAR this season
Would be a great addition for Toronto
Agreed, though it’ll take some serious Jedi mind tricks from AA to get it done at a reasonable cost…
Bautista Rasmus/Gose Upton sounds nice.
But shouldn’t they trade for young pitching?
AA: These are not the players you’re looking for.
Just my opinion but this reeks of an owner that wants this player gone. And KT is now stuck trying to play it off as a non-necessity to move him and that it will only happen on his terms regarding the return. The D-Backs owner put KT in a no win situation. And now the return for Justin will be no where near what most expect it to be. I just don’t see how this is going to play out well for the D-Backs due to the owners stubborness for him to be gone. Or is it a money issue? Does KT not think Upton is worth the contract he was given? Going to be interesting… but in the end personally I just don’t see him bringing in the haul that some expect.
I couldnt agree more. People PAY for consistent success…but Justin has not proven that he can deliver that. And if your going to pay 10-15 mill per season that is going to hit .260 with 12 home runs…then the team acquiring him is taking on a bigtime risk.
A guy like Jeter DESERVED to be paid on past performance…does anyone truely believe that Upton has earned that yet? Cause I do not.
he has one of the best young contracts in baseball
Depends on which Upton you’re trying to value with the contract. The 2010-2012 version not in the least. Now the 2009-2011 version absolutely it seems like value. Also there’s the home / road splits that have been mentioned numerous times. Not sold on the contract completely with 14 mil and 15 mil due in a couple years.
Its a catch 22 with Upton. If he were playing at his 2011 level every team would want him and his contract would be a bargain. He would also not be on the market. Since he’s playing at his 2010 level instead the contract is paying him twice his value, he’s labeled a malcontent that doesn’t put in the work and teams want him without giving up their top prospects.
I think because of his 2011 and 2009 seasons he still has strong value to teams to the point that the D-Backs should get at least 1 of the teams top prospects, a major league caliber replacement for Upton and a few other prospects in a teams top 10-15 list.
If it was based on his 2010 and 2012 seasons though the D-Backs would be lucky to get two guys in the 10-15 range for him with that salary.
The D-Backs though are looking for a return like what his 2011 and 2009 seasons would bring which would be two or three top 5 talents and two guys in that 10-15 range and maybe even a major league replacement.
Thats what they are asking for, and heck, I dont blame them for trying…after all, that is Kevin Towers job! But reality dictates that Towers will NOT get that type of package. Not 1 team has put a top prospect up yet. Everyone with a top 50 MLB prospect has said, “No they arent on the market” So if everyone stands pat, and DBacks ownership has told KT that Upton must go, then the price will come down.
I have been saying it for almost 1 week, I honestly believe Upton will be traded for 1 Top Tier Prospect and 2-3 B Level Prospects.
Agreed on the prospect front one A, and 2 B’s will get it done. There’s too much scrutiny (Fair or not) going on with him and not enough consistency to get a huge haul.
I agree. With Votto going down for around a month I could see the Reds getting interested and offering something that doesn’t involve Hamilton. I’ve floated the following deal which is the 1 TTP and 2-3 B level prospects
1. One of Drew Stubbs or Chris Heisey
2 Daniel Corcino or Tony Cingrani two SPs that are likely 2 and 3 in the Reds system behind Hamilton. I’ve seen some rate Corcino number 1 over Hamilton.
3. Didi Gregorius — slick fielding SS that will hit enough to warrant a starting job
4. Henry Rodriquez– 3B that is a very good hitter. Believe that Griffey Sr rated him the best bat in the Reds system
I think that is a very fair offer for Upton with the questions around him right now. If this were 2011 there is no way that a deal would be done without it involving Hamilton and one of those two pitchers. The Pirates would have to involve both Marte and one of their top pitching prospects.
Again though if Upton was the 2011 MVP caliber player this wouldn’t even be up for discussion.
Even at his 2011 levels most GMs worth their salt are going to look more closely at his production and see a home/road split of 1.033 and .767 OPS as being a serious problem for them since only the Diamondbacks get to play 81 games at Chase Field.
To be fair though some of his road games have been in strong pitchers parks as well with Petco, Pac Bell, and LA in the same division.
A thing people seem to forget when talking of Upton’s trade value is that players of Upton’s talent level have historically struggled during the age 24 season. Players that come up as young as Upton do experience their major breakout year at the ages of 26/27 seasons. While rival GM’s will bring up his inconsistency, Towers will bring up the examples of the similar players that have broke out after these down years, it’s the same thing that happens every year with trades.
This may be true, but how many of those players already had two strong years that could be labeled as “breakout” seasons. Right now BR has Ruben Sierra as Upton’s number one comparable at his current age. Sierra pretty much fell off the map after his age 25 season.
I think the problem is that Towers isn’t talking about Upton’s potential. He and the team’s owner seem more interested in expressing their anger than they are with building up his trade value. As a Diamondbacks fan, I find this extremely frustrating. I’m worried that we will end up with a trade that punishes Upton rather than one that helps the team.
Pirates deal LHP Owens, RHP Morris, OF Grossman for Upton
lol
Mark my words: Upton will go to Detroit for the “untouchable” Castellanos and Boesch.
More like castellanos turner and a promising prospect. Arizona doesnt want or need boesch
I would love the Yanks to get Upton. The Yankees have a ton of peices to get him, but problem is they dont have the pieces that Arizona would want. So you would need to get a third team involved. Heres the offer I made, which would never happen.
Texas- Nova
Yankees- Upton, Colon
Arizona- Olt, Austin, Nunez, Luis Sardinas
Oakland- Robert Ross, Brandon Laird
Arizona gets a young major league ready 3rd base prospect, major league ready shortstop (cough cough), and a great OF prospect.
Yanks trade Nova, Austin, Nunez, and Laird for Upton which I know is hard to stomach but it is what it would take to get him.
I think the Yankees would have to give up more then Austin, Nunez and Laird alongside Nova, if you took out Austin and put in Mason Williams then I think this could work but the yankees have said over and over again they are looking to be under 189 by 2014. If they try and get an extension for Cano at 22M then you are looking at an infield of around 90 million assuming Jeter comes back again. If you add Sabathia and a catcher for around 5 mil, now you are at 120 million. I dont know if they would want to add Upton’s salary cause you are left at 2 mlb outfielders and 4 starting pitchers plus a bullpen and bench for 54 million.
I see the reds as the frontrunner for this situation since they have a need because Votto just went to the DL and they have the Farm System.
Upton for Cigrani, Todd Frazier and Robert Stephenson
why in the world would Texas trade Olt and Robbie Ross for Nova. Must be nice to for the yanks to be able to use Texas farm to facilitate a trade for upton.
You bring in Upton who covers for Gardner this year, and gives us a year and 1/2 to grow Mason. You dont extend Granderson so your outfield in 2015 is Gardner, Mason, and Upton.
So bascially you give Cano a monsterous contract and let Granderson walk replacing him with Upton.
Your rotation next year is CC, Pettitte/ Kuroda, Pineda, Hughes, Banuelos
If Stanton ends up being put on the trading block, then I would go absolutely all in to acquire him and forget about Upton all together unless his price drops significantly. The bad part of this to Kevin Towers is that MANY baseball people will probably share my view…This might kill Uptons value…cause the bidding wars would be for Stanton, not for Upton…Justin would become some contenders “consolation prize”
If Kevin Towers is handcuffed and being forced to trade Upton as per ownership, then he needs to make a deal PRIOR to the Marlins making a decision of whether or not to be sellers. If Stanton is on the market, Upton goes on the back-burner.
Find your best deal Kevin, and pull the trigger while you can still get a decent package.
so teams are trading for guys on the DL now? not to mention the ridiculousness behind trading a 22yr old who hit 34 hrs last year and has 2 more years before arbitration
If Huntington won’t include Marte in a deal then what justification is there in him playing another single inning at AAA? I can only assume that he is still there so that there is no chance of him diminishing his value if he were to initially struggle at the big league level.
apparently an ESPN writer made a trade proposal for Upton:
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton to Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Starling Marte, pitcher Luis Heredia and shortstop Alen Hanson.
honestly i don’t think i’d do this. i’d think about it for quite a while but i don’t think i’d do it.
I wouldn’t do that.
When you have a player like Upton (on paper), you don’t trade him. The fact that he is up for trade is a huge red flag and that to me means .60 on the dollar.
Not to mention that his 38.5 million owed through 2015 makes him not bargain.
Does anyone know the history of Kevin Towers, take it from a Padre fan while he was GM there. This is the GM who took Texas for Gonzalez, only having to give up two so-so pitchers with major league experience. Towers is sitting pretty good on the Upton deal, does’nt have to trade him right away, could wait til the off-season for a better deal. It is how bad does these team inquiring about Upton want to give Towers for him. Will be very interested to see if he does infact trade him, no big hurry for Towers.
This may sound stupid, and I don’t know if its even within the realm of possibility, but I keep hearing that the D’Backs are looking at Chase Headly. The Padres have no impact prospects on the immediate horizon in the outfield. Headly for Upton?
This may not be in the realm of reality, but I keep hearing the D’backs are interested in Chase Headly, and the Padres have a stockpile at 3b and no OF prospects that are poised to make an impact anytime soon (Liriano seems to be a couple years away), so wouldn’t Headly for Upton make sense? I know other players might need to be included and maybe some cash sorted out, but Arizona seems bent on ridding themselves of Upton who’s tools might play well in Petco, and Headly would probably be a little happier with his stats in Arizona.
It’s not happening. Arizona needs to make their offense better. Trading Upton obviously doesn’t make that happen.
I would love to see Upton in the orange and blue in Queens.
The Mets have some nice pitching prospects, LH hitting OFers, and middle infield talent.
Let’s make a deal!