8:37pm: The Diamondbacks are more likely to trade Kubel than Upton, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
12:59pm: Some think a Kubel trade could happen today, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. The D'Backs reached an agreement with bench bat Eric Hinske earlier today.
12:30am: Justin Upton's name has dominated Diamondbacks trade rumors recently, but Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes that the D-backs have had at least as many conversations surrounding a potential trade of Jason Kubel.
Morosi speculates that the Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Rangers, Rays and Mariners could all be in on Kubel, who is due to earn $7.5MM in 2013 with a mutual option for the same amount in 2014. That's significantly more affordable than the $38.5MM remaining on Upton's deal.
Kubel's first season in the National League saw the 30-year-old produce a .253/.327/.506 triple slash line with career bests in home runs (30) and walk rate (10 percent). His defense graded out poorly as usual, however, which might make him appealing to American League teams who can use him as a designated hitter as the Twins did frequently throughout his seven years in Minnesota.
