Recently, Justin Upton's name has popped up in trade talks as GM Kevin Towers seems willing to part ways with the 23-year-old – for the right price, of course. Several teams have been linked to the up-and-coming star, including the Red Sox, Yankees, and even the division rival Rockies. There's no shortage of interest in the slugger, but one has to wonder if the asking price will be too rich for everyone's blood.
Yesterday, an American League executive told Jon Heyman of SI that Arizona's asking price is "ridiculous." The D'Backs are said to be looking for at least four or five players in return that can help them in the short-term and long-term. Today, it was reported that half of the teams in baseball have shown interest in Upton but Towers will only ship the up-and-coming star if he comes away the clear victor in a trade. It makes one wonder if Arizona's recently-crowned GM is looking to trade Upton or if he is simply keeping an open mind to potential offers.
Will the D'Backs trade Upton?
Its hard to trade young talent but if you can fill three or four holes on your team you almost have too. Hope my sox stay involved!
Az will have to be wowed to deal him, and rightfully so. Lot of talent in that guy
Make the deal for him beinfest, go marlins
Hopefully! Got my fingers crossed for the Marlins or Jays…
Infact I think tomorow’s going to be the day.
You think tomorrow someone is gonna give up their entire farm system, because I don’t.
Fine, the next day then…I don’t get your point…If he’s going to be traded, it’s going to happen the day after another day so why not tomorow? I think the talks are still so fresh so thats why I think it’ll be tomorow or the next day.
Really like what Jays can give him, though think they’d be better off if they hadn’t traded Wallace. I like Gose more than him, but Wallace seems like a Towers guy, and Drabek and Wallace plus some others would likely get it done
Drabek is untouchable. He’s not going anywhere…The four Jays scneraio’s I can see are this…
Snider/Stewart/Cecil
Snider/Gose/Stewart/McDade
Snider/Lind/Hutchinson/Permisson
Snider/Cecil/Farina/Goins/Krouse.
If no Drabek, I think they’d need to give up Snider, Gose, Stewart and a big league ready starter or a similarly strong package.
Cecil.
doubtful for lind as he might be playing 1st depending on the rest of FA for them.
Drabek is untouchable but Snider isn’t..
Question.. Who’s projected performance would be EASIER for the jays to replace??
You know the farm Span, the arms are there, the bats are not.
Agree with this 100%.
Every single trade there is an over payment… Snider projects to have similar outputs, probably with a tick less speed and defense but a bit more power and is 22.. on top of that you give up 2-3 more good players.. no way diamond backs get that haul and realistically giving up both snider and lind or snider and cecil for upton will end up making the Jays worse.
I’m getting tired of seeing your posts about Snider. Not because you’re wrong but because people can’t get it through their thick heads. ;)Completely counterproductive as you have pointed out and I think the lineup starts to look a little too right-handed as well. I wouldn’t be opposed to moving Drabek to get this done. Snider is the only untouchable to me.
I know 🙁 i”m sick of it too. I’ve repeated myself a million times..Reality is, if it wasn’t for Cito, no one would be considering trading Snider
you think they’d move lind?
If Arizona wants him, then absolutley.
selling low is a no no
Drabek isn’t untouchable. I don’t know where you get this idea from. I’d bet the Jays are more willing to give up Drabek than Snider in a trade.
From John Lott, one of Toronto’s best Baseball writers who has strong connections to the team. That’s where.
As great as Lott is, a journalist doesn’t know who’s untouchable and who isn’t…there’s no way AA would even comment on that.
No way, the future to the Jays pitching, is Touchable.
Because you said so. Got it.
What makes you believe it will happen tomorrow(if it happens at all)?
Would the Marlins trade Stanton for him? Because I’m thinking that’s what the D-Backs would ask for. I think Jays seem more likely, as don’t see Stanton getting traded, as his upside is close to Uptons.
I see it like this…
Logan Morrison, Ricky Nolasco, Brad Hand, and Marcell Ozuna
Travis Snider, Zach Stewart, and Brett Cecil
I think the D’Backs are going to want more. If you haven’t read the Fangraphs piece, it really shows how valuable he is. I think it will at least take another big league starter from the Jays (or Drabek) and the Marlins at least have to include one more player (also think the D’Backs would like Skipworth.)
I did read the fangraphs piece, and I think Dave was spot on, but I don’t think there is a right package or a wrong package…As far as we know it’s all about quality then quantity and I don’t think Drabek is going anywhere. We’ll see…But we do know one thing…This is going to be exciting and it already really is!
I agree. These deals are the best. Just hope he doesn’t end up for the Red Sox or Yankees… and I’m not usually one of those guys but it just wouldn’t seem right if they got him
Completely agree. I live in NY and if he was on the Yankees I’d get to see him every day. But I don’t like the Yankees and don’t want him to go there. I really want him to be a Jay or Marlin as I said before, although I wouldn’t mind one bit if he was a White Sock, Mariner, of any other team not named Yanks or Red Sox.
If not my White Sox (which would be an absolute long shot), I agree with your above post that I wish it would be Jays, and also I wish the A’s would make a play for him to add a legitimate batter and defender to make them a force in the AL West.
Agreed. The A’s have as good a package as anybody, Carter/Green/Parker/Ross/Farquahar/Cardenas/Weeks/Krol/Barfield/Sweeney/Stassi are all potential players who could form a package. I’d love to see him on my Swinging A’s!
Marlins wont trade lomo for him doesn’t make sense for them. I bet marlins only do it if he isn’t involved. Nolasco, gaby sanchez, kyle skipworth, chad james, plus maybe a brad hand?
If they aren’t going to trade Lomo I don’t see why they would trade all 3 of Skip/Gabs/and James. I think the Marlins can get a deal done…
Nolasco, either Lomo, or Gaby and Skipworth, if they choose Lomo then they get Hand. If they choose Gaby and Skipworth they get Olmos. I wouldn’t trade Skipworth or James at all though.
Its going to take alot
ok maybe im biased. but what about a team no one is mentioning.
Tyler Colvin, Andrew Cashner, Josh Vitters, and maybe Jay Jackson.
Its going to have to be Brett Jackson, Hak-Ju-Lee, Chris Archer, Andrew Cashner.
Colvin would play first base.
Going by the report that they wanted 2 to 3 guys who were major league ready how does that fit. Colvin and Cashner fit the ML ready plus Vitters is very close and would allow them to move Reynolds much easier.
Vitters isn’t going to make it in my opinion
Yea, from what I’ve heard from the media here in Chicago, “sources” inside the Cubs feel Vitters just flat out cannot hit. Looking at his stats in the low minors, I can’t blame them.
You better include Hak-Ju Lee and/or Brett Jackson to get the D’Backs interested. I feel people around baseball aren’t very high on Colvin (he’s talented but not amazing upside) and I think Cashner may be regulated to reliever unless his secondary pitches developed. From what I’ve heard, Vitters is also looking like a bust. I hope this doesn’t sound biased but I don’t hate the Cubs just because of my name, I just feel they need more.
understandable. Lee is still a couple years away. Jackson could replace Colvin in the deal but im not sure that he is ready either. And i was going based on the report of AZ wanting 2 or 3 ML ready guys. Cashner could become either a starter or a reliever. Either way he would help the D-Backs this year. Colvin strikes me as kind of a late bloomer anyway but i think he still has more to offer that we havent seen yet once he gets out of the way of broken bats.
and dont worry im a Cubs fan up in north idaho. im not one of those militant cubs fans from chicago lol. Im also a baseball guy so i dont think that every prospect of ours is going to turn into Mickey Mantle or Nolan Ryan.
Yea, I really like Colvin, but I also think if he’s a star it won’t be until he’s closer to 30, he’s got that sort of skill set, but he just isn’t the kind of player Towers would want. Towers love high-upside guys, and would probably begin by asking for Starlin. Hopefully, Hendry isn’t dumb enough to do that, as Castro will be a SUPERSTAR, but it would have to involve Lee, Brett Jackson, Cashner, and either Jay Jackson and Vitters. That’s basically the entire farm system, so I just see it as unlikely.
Its already hard to watch this team. Trading Castro would result in some headline about a crazed fan killing Hendry. Especially for a RH hitting corner OF. Now if it got us someone like Ryan Zimmerman sure id trade Castro but not for Upton.
Realistically it would be nice to see a team like Florida or Washington or someone like that get him if he gets moved at all.
then you have an out field of soriano byrd upton and fukudome thats pretty expensive and pretty crowded…how man times must we all say it…Look it up rickets wants to lower payroll over the next few years, take that money and improve wrigley to attract more people thus have a big payroll in a few years
Yes however Fukudome comes off the books after this year if he isnt traded before then. Byrd is not very expensive. Soriano is, well, Soriano.
They arent lowering payroll to use it on the stadium. Its getting diverted into the farm system. thats why they are asking for money from the state.
If they can trade Fukudome and say that they eat half of what he is owed 13.5M/2 is 6.75M saved. Upton is only going to make 4.25M this season and will only make 6.75 next year. He doesnt get expensive til 2013 when he reaches 9.75M. So your arguement that bringing him in would make things too expensive is moot. Cause even when he does get expensive the contracts for guys like Aramis, Dempster, and Zambrano will be off the books.
All that would have to happen is to trade Fukudome which is not impossible especially when you can eat over half of the contract and still break even.
Quantity < Quality.
If the Marlins or Blue Jays want someone like Justin Upton, they're going to have to give up their top prospects (Stanton or Drabek) at the very least. This isn't a rental of Dan Uggla we're talking about.
Snider and Morrison are a step down but no way do Drabek and Stanton get included. Deals can be made without those two.
How is Snider a step down from Drabek?In 2009 Snider was baseball america’s #6, Drabek is # 25not that baseball america is the end all, just don’t quite buy the argument that Snider is a lesser prospect then Drabek.
I just think he’s a step down in value.
to the Jays, Snider is probably worth double what Drabek is worth
Yes, but they have no intention of trading Drabek. Snider is bait for Justin Upton.
we really don’t have any good bats left in the minors, id rather give up drabek
if it wasnt for Cito and a wrist injury Snider could be a bigger whiter Justin Upton, trading a 22 year old with 25 HR’s in his for 600 career AB’s would be one of the worst moves ever.
Well i’d rather have Upton for many other reasons. Speed, average, Justin Upton is a superstar who I think will be 10 times better than Snider in the long run. Snider hit .341 over his last 10 games okay I get it. But i’d rather have Justin Upton any day ever.
and so would I ..but trading Snider, Stewart and Cecil for Upton doesn’t make the Jays a playoff team.. Jays can’t replace the production.. so why even bother getting upton if its just to remain a pretty good non play off team?
I agree and now that I think about it I would not trade Cecil at all.
I think a deal could get done. I really do, and my bad for including Cecil in that package. Snider/Marisnick/Stewart/Lind. That would be one of my packages.
I really do like the Rajai Davis move. One of the great guys in the game, I kind of know him a tad on a personal level because we live near eachother and I know some of his friends. I wouldn’t have given up Farks and Mags, but it is what it is.
No
Hope the White Sox get involved, though they don’t have the farm to do it. However, I think if they got a third team involved, and traded Floyd and Beckham to the Diamondbacks, Quentin to Phillies or similar team, and receive Upton. Thats probably not enough, but it would be a good start.
floyd+jared mitchell(or jordan danks)+ dyan vicedio+ quentin would be mroe like it add in the SS escobar who is killin it in the AFL right now and there might be a deal there, i doubt beckham gets moved unless they can flip quentin for a 2nd or kenny goes out and signs hudson
That wouldn’t even be close to enough. Danks is bad, Mitchell has been hurt and Viciedo doesn’t have that much value. You need to give up AT LEAST Floyd and Beckham for Upton.
If Towers trades Upton, the entire state of Arizona will have his head. It’s not going to happen.
Well with the haul he’d get in return…
Cards would have to trade Rasmus + Milller to get the guy. No way any team gives up enough talent to land Upton…
i would not do that deal as a card fan or gm….colby has the same skills as upton but left handed and much much much much cheaper for the next 4-5 years
nah they will be wowed by the mediocre talent az will get in return just like for haren.
This. Obviously, from what Towers is asking, he will only trade Upton if somebody offers a stupid about in return. This is just a useless time sink for any rational GM.
And with Omar Minaya fired and Dayton Moore’s Royals on his no-trade list, the list of GM’s dumb enough to offer a golden package for Upton is dwindling quickly.
Lol i think the pirates should get him i know there not going to but i dont no how much the outfield could get with mccuthen upton and tabata thats could possibly be one of the best outfields for 2011!
I can’t see Arizona getting what they are asking for. Their potential trade partner needs to have the prospects to get this done AND the loss of those prospects can’t significantly jeopardize their ability to compete in the next five years. That is a very small pool of teams, Texas and the Rays being the best fits that I can think off.
Jays are currently the favorites according to FoxSpots.
EDIT: For some reason Disqus put this here. Sorry jth532. It was a reply to Tim Valencia.
foxsports= not reliable at all
Yet mlbtr keeps using them as sources. Regardless if it’s reliable or not, it’s the best us fans have to work with.
After Rosenthal predicted exactly how the Halladay trade would go down, I tend to at least give them some merrit.
Don’t get me started on Heyman.
fox anything= not reliable
Yankees could as well. They’re about to lock up their entire infield for the next 3 years at least. Not to mention their soon-to-be sick starting rotation and Granderson in center. What’s Swisher’s contract situation like?
I don’t really follow the details of the Yankees contracts really. They don’t have to worry about being able to resign guys. What they want, they buy.
my super limited insider information has been telling me Red Sox since Monday.
You and your boys, drunk, at a Boston sports bar?
I wish I was at a bar but im in Anaheim. BTW I know I sounds like a total douchebag for giving out info like that. Also I am a padres fan who cant stand the Boston talk.
And my inside source keeps telling me to put tinfoil on my head because the aliens can read my mind. Of course my inside source is a guy who lives in a dumpster and asks for spare change… I’m guessing we have the same inside source.
you really think the 4 letter network knows that much? of course they think the bosox are the favs…it could in all reality be the mariners but espn would never go that angle
I can’t see NY or Boston pulling off a deal. The Yanks don’t really have the prospects and Boston doesn’t really have any good major league ready pitchers. The Jays should be the big favourite here, a top 5 system and plenty of young pitching that the D-Backs will certainly ask for.
4 or 5 players for Justin Upton? Ha! If you combine BJ & Juston’s stats they’re not worth 4 or players.
If I were Theo, I’d offer Ells, Doubront, Rizzo, and Reddick. Take it or leave it.
Ells would be replaced by Upton(of course), Kelly will be ready to fill Dice-K’s role in a year or two, Rizzo is most likely going to get blocked from coming up when the Sox sign Gonzalez, Reddick is more or less expendable, he’s a fourth OF in the AL, could start in the NL he’s pretty speedy and a good fielder, good hitter in the minors(hasn’t really translated that in the Majors although the sample size is small)
Not enough. Flat out the D’backs want the world, and that is by no means the world. Reddick doesn’t appear to be anything special, Ellbury not amazing, nor is Doubront’s upside. Anyway, no way trade gets done without Kelly being involved.
I agree Reddick isn’t anything special. However, Ellsbury is pretty damn good when healthy 2009 season he hit .301, stole 70 bases, knocked in 60 from the leadoff spot, scored 94 times. He didn’t better those numbers or match them last season because he was injured. Doubront is really good too, I don’t understand how he doesn’t have any upside, he’s only 22 and pitched really well out of the pen last season.
What Red Sox fans fail to admit and/or remember when they graciously include Ellsbury in every deal for an all star is that he is arbitration eligible and his agent is Scott Boras. He is not a building block for a team in Arizona’s position. He’s a player who is guaranteed to go for every last dollar in arbitration and then will hit free agency without giving whatever team he is on a chance to sign him to reasonable deal.
He is about to get expensive. This is why the Padres and the Diamondbacks won’t want him.
They want cheap MLB ready players who will remain under their control for many years.
Ellsbury isn’t the centerpiece of any kind of deal anymore. This isn’t the Johan Santana trade from a few years ago.
Now he’s a soon to be expensive player with injury issues with a ruthless agent out for every last cent. He’s not worthless, but he’s not the focal point by any means.
I’m guessing that Bucholtz, Kelly, Kalish, Iglesias and another prospect probably could get Upton if the Red Sox decided to empty their organization of young players for a potential franchise OF’er.
So, the Diamondbacks won’t want Ellsbury even though they specifically asked for him. How strange.
Like you have intimate knowledge of which players the Diamondbacks have asked for? All the press reports are speculation. The names being swatted around are reporters guessing and trying to generate stories.
Lol..a decent outfielder and 3 meh prospects won’t interest them in the least. Given that Buchholz is the teams only attractive young pitcher, I’d suspect he would have to be in any deal.
bucholz and bard and ellsbury would be bank robbery. 3 people who have made (and dominated in buck and bard’s case) it in the AL east going to the NL. there’s no way the sox make that deal. buchholz is a cy young front runner next yr and bard’s closer in 2 years. plus ellsbury is the one of the most explosive baserunners in MLB when he has all ribs intact.
Comments like this from Red Sox and Yankees fans always amuse me. These kept coming up in the Halladay threads too, same with Mauer before his new contract.
Take it or leave it? What? Why on earth would the DBacks accept any such ultimatum for Justin Upton? They have him for 5 more years. They either get EXACTLY what they want, or they don’t trade him.
Alright Braves get on it.. Go ahead and give brooks conrad and Brandon Beachy.. LOL
What don’t you guys get about AZ wanting major league players. The only names mention have been Ellsbury and Bard. I have seen NO prospects listed from any clubs. Four to five players needed to get Upton and at least 2 need significant major league time….then add two or three prospects.
What about the possibility of a multi team deal. I haven’t seen anyone mention that among these comments.
Upton has a lot of value, players like him usually never hit the market
BUT
you cant make your team worse just to get him, thats counter productive and you will just end up in the same situation as Arizona, hoping to trade a star because you have too many holes to fill.
My trade for the Diamond Backs
Cecil, Stewart, D’arnaud, Thames and Mastroianni.
Thats 1 top of the rotation starter, 1 mid rotation starter, 1 top 50 prospect, 1 underrated mlb ready outfielder and Mastroianni..
If I’m the Jays I do that in a heartbeat. They’d only be losing Cecil off the big league roster and adding Justin Upton. They could then pursue other deals to replace Cecil in the rotation.
Hopefully Litsch comes back healthy and can fill the 5th starter role.
otherwise you have Rzep who can fill in.. just bite the bullet for a year until Deck is ready.
Somehow I completely forgot about Scrabble. Makes the deal even better. He can definitely fill in at the back of a rotation. And if not, you have guys like Richmond, McGowan/Litsch if healthy, Mills, etc to hopefully catch lightning in a bottle for a few starts here or there.
I think Dana Eveland is still available.. lol
I can’t see him traded. In order for it to be worthwhile to Arizona, they would need to get a massive load of talent.
However, if anything were to backfire for the team acquiring him, it could set them back for years.
How can any GM possibly make this deal with K.Towers when the guy flat out says that he is only going to trade Upton when he clearly comes out as the victor in the deal. Sure that is based on his opinion, but he’s pretty damn good talent evaluator and that statement would just scare me off as a GM.
Secondly, the only way to make this trade seems to involve taking away some good major league talent from your team. How can you justify doing this to your team if its most likely going to hurt your MLB team more than it will help it. Lets take Boston for example. I’m a Yankee fan but I actually think that trading away a “healthy”* Ellsbury and Bard to get Upton back is already weakening your major league team. Granted, AZ probably doesnt want Ellsbury cause of his arb eligibility coming up, but that’s the sort of talent that AZ is probably looking for. Add to that the fact that you will have to throw in more prospects and this deal makes no sense for the Red Sox.
As a GM, their job should be to make the team better and it’s not always about going for the guy with the sexy name.