B.J. Upton will decline the Rays' qualifying offer, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. With Upton turning down the one-year, $13.3MM offer, the Rays will now receive a compensatory draft pick if Upton signs with another team as a free agent. It was no surprise that Upton declined the offer and it seems as if it's as equally a foregone conclusion that he will leave Tampa Bay, as the Rays can't afford the expensive, multiyear contract that Upton will surely command on the open market.
Once Upton officially rejects the qualifying offer, however, it may free the Rays up to pursue a trade with the Diamondbacks for B.J.'s younger brother Justin. Topkin speculates that James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson or David Price would have to be dealt in order to obtain the younger Upton from Arizona.
BJ and Justin in Tampa?
One of the most interesting free agent cases on the market this offseason. Will be interesting to see if he can live up to his potential in a new environment.
Shields deal for Jupton would be great for the Rays if they could afford Upton’s increasing contract hit.
Shields would be a bad fit in Arizona with his HR problem and under contract for 1 year? Price would be the best fit
price is worth way more than upton
Never said it would be upton for price straight up. Just said Price is the better fit for what the D’backs need
I think Shields would flourish in the NL.
It’s looking like the Rays are going to get themselves the #16 overall pick in the 2013 draft and knowing them, a future all star.
Thanks, I was just wondering what # pick the Phils have.
If the rays trade David Price for Justin Upton it will be the worse trade in their history!
If only they were around as long as some of the other teams that statement would sound a lot more serious
Upton is a significantly younger Bourn, imo. Atlanta should be ready to man the phones.
Trading Shield makes the most sense to me. He’s no longer under team control. He still has great ability and would make a nice trade piece. Keep Price for another year and Hellboy as long as possible.