Justin Upton and the Diamondbacks finalized a six-year deal that will pay the outfielder $51.25MM. The extension, which the club is expected to announce tomorrow, begins with the 2010 season and runs through 2015. SI's Jon Heyman tweeted the year-by-year salary breakdown: $20.75MM for Upton's three arbitration years, and over $14MM for each free agent year. Each year Upton can also choose four teams to which he cannot be traded.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the deal, Ken Davidoff of Newsday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic and SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted contract details and Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted that the deal was finalized and confirmed financial details.
Though he's only 22, Upton had a breakout 2009 with a .300/.366/.532 line. Such production at that age brings Hall of Fame comparisons. Upton would have been arbitration-eligible after the 2010 season, so this deal buys out two free agent seasons.
A six-year deal in the $50MM range would be a bargain for the D'Backs. Miguel Cabrera, for example, will be paid about $74MM for the same slice of his career. Andruw Jones made $57.4MM, and his extension was signed nine years ago. Nick Markakis, though, will earn about $47MM for the same portion of his career.
great job d backs, upton has great written all over him, JUSTIN UPTON
Just a spectacular signing. Love it for Upton and the Diamondbacks. Also, they couldn’t have picked a better day to get this done!
Great move by the DBacks to lock him up, at least for 2 FA seasons. Kid’s a STUD.
This is great news the kid can play, and he is the face of the franchise going forward. Go Snakes!! haha
Fantastic for both parties. D-backs get him locked up at a $8.3MM average and Upton gets security and set for life. Plus he stays over in the NL West!
good for both sides not only does he make a good chunk of change he will be a FA when he 28 prime for a 100+ mill contract.
More Than Is Brother BJ Upton Jajajajaj Rays Are One Hit Wonders (They Making Predition About This Year First Place Jjajaj They Are Real Crazy That Team Never Will Win Again A Playoff Spot
2008 was somewhat of a Cinderella season, but staying competitive in the AL east with a payroll about 1/3 of the Yankees WHILE still having a top 5 farm system…never count the rays out. Do I detect a hint of jealousy?
I agree with this. The Rays are one of the best run organizations in the MLB. I’d say second to the other Florida team, the Marlins, actually. I can’t wait until Jennings cements a spot in the majors. That outfield is scary athletic.
Rays have a great young nucleus and still have a top-3 farm system. Why would you be so convinced they will “never” again make the playoffs?
Better question: why the need to capitalize every word in your post?
Jajajajaj
People are feeding the troll.
6/50 for a player of Upton’s caliber is phenomenal, especially considering that his best years are yet to come. Great deal for Arizona… if I’d heard Upton was going to sign a six-year deal, I’d have thought $72MM or so. $50MM is great news for Arizona fans, while six years of Upton in the NL West is bad news for Dodger, Giant, Padre, and Rox fans.
while six years of Upton in the NL West is bad news for Dodger, Giant, Padre, and Rox fans.
True, but still finished wayyyyy behind all these teams last year so is it really “bad news”?
Uh, yeah. I’d imagine so. They finished “wayyyyy” behind those teams because they were missing their ace (who is worth from 6-7 WAR a year), their most consistent hitter (worth 3.5 WAR), had no production out of first base (fixed with LaRoche; worth about 2.5 WAR), and with the bullpen blowing leads constantly (seriously, if you watched them on a daily basis, it was sad. It happened almost every 8th inning; most likely fixed with a more experienced Gutierrez). We aren’t a last place caliber team, regardless of last year’s record.
Call me a homer if you want, but my opinion is that we are a pretty good team. Not a contender for the division, but definitely the wild card, especially if Young or Drew rebound.
Wow – that would be nice…
I’m not one to freak out, but let me be the first to say: WOOOOO!!!! Holy crap. I’m officially excited. I was almost sure Upton would be one of those players just waiting for free agency to come.
Now, everybody knock on wood that the Dbacks extension curse doesn’t hit Upton.
Right? Total bargain.
Andrew Jones did not sign a multi-year deal until his 3rd year of arbitration; Cabrera signed his deal in his 3rd year of arbitration; Markakis signed his deal in his 1st year of arbitration. You need to compare apples to apples. Upton is a 2+, his deal compares to other 2+ deals like Hanley Ramirez $70 over 6; David Wright $55 over 6; and Dustin Pedroia’s joke at $40.5 over 6.
Unless the FO starts printing money, I’m guessing this means Webb is out after 2010.
I don’t think it changes anything on the Webb front. It doesn’t seem to be too much more than Upton would have gotten in arbitration next year.
A 30/30 .300 hitter for 8mil a year? Damn!
A 30/30 .300 hitter for 8mil a year? Damn!d
For six years no less. +1 Eric Byrnes.
Talk about a bargain. Props to Byrnes for getting that done.
Now trade him to the yankees for an overhyped prospect lol
Good for the Dbacks. Upton is too good for being that young. His contract will be the best in baseball.
Great deal.
Happy day for D-Back fans. Sounds like the Reynolds extension talks are moving along and you lock up Upton.If Chris Young bounces back along with Conor Jackson and Stephen Drew breaks out, you’ll have an extremely potent offense. With Webb, Haren, and Jackson, you turn into one of the better teams in the NL.
Why you giving him soo much money for a young guy like this? Maybe 6 years for 30 million not 50. I know cost certainty is worth money but this seems like a hefty price.
He would make 400k this year wouldnt he?
I’m so jealous of this deal. Something like that should be done for Kemp now. 6 years 62-65 million. Get him locked up now!
Good for the DBacks and Upton.
Good for the DBacks and Upton.