Headlines

  • Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL
  • Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain
  • Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
  • Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks
  • DeGrom MRI Reveals “Continued Healing”; Still No Clear Timetable For Return
  • Boras: Michael Conforto Not Ruling Out Late-Season Return
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Tigers Nearing Six-Year Deal With Justin Upton

By Steve Adams | January 18, 2016 at 8:34pm CDT

8:34pm: The two sides are closing in on an agreement, according to Jon Heyman (Twitter link). Rosenthal adds that it’ll be a six-year deal, if finalized.

8:29pm: The Tigers are in discussions with free agent outfielder Justin Upton, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Things have been relatively quiet on the Upton front as of late, with more focus being placed on fellow corner outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, but Detroit does stand out as a logical landing spot for a top-tier outfielder.

As it stands, the Tigers figure to use a combination of Anthony Gose and Cameron Maybin in left field and center field, though the addition of Upton could theoretically push those two into a platoon or shift Gose into fourth outfielder territory. Detroit general manager Al Avila has said previously that he considers his heavy lifting this winter to be complete and finds a significant outfield addition unlikely, but owner Mike Ilitch could potentially go over his GM’s head in order to bring in a high-profile outfield addition. Upton, who has slashed .262/.344/.470 and averaged 27 homers per year across the past three seasons would certainly fit the bill.

It remains unclear how serious talks between the two sides are at present, and adding another hefty contract to the books with Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Jordan Zimmermann all signed through 2019, plus Victor Martinez through 2018 and Ian Kinsler and Anibal Sanchez through 2017 would be risky. However, Ilitch has long been one of the most aggressive owners in terms of free-agent spending and candidly stated earlier this offseason (after the Zimmermann signing) that he “didn’t care” about spending money.

Signing Upton, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Padres in November, would cost the Tigers a draft pick. However, Detroit’s No. 9 overall selection is protected under the collective bargaining agreement, and the team already forfeited its second-round pick to sign Zimmermann, meaning that the cost to sign Upton for Detroit would be “only” a third-round pick — a considerably lighter cost than many other potential Upton suitors would face.

Share 37 Retweet 8 Send via email0

Detroit Tigers Justin Upton

AL West Notes: Sucre, Cespedes, Rangers’ Rotation
Main
Free Agent Notes: Cespedes, Mets, Davis, Nathan
View Comments (27)

Comments

  1. Just Another Fan

    6 years ago

    Iglesias
    Kinsler
    Cabrera
    JD Mart
    Upton
    V Mart
    Castellanos
    Saltalamacchia
    Maybin
    Bench: Aviles, Gose, McCann, Romine

    Reply
    • seamaholic

      6 years ago

      Nice sign. Still a 3rd place team in my opinion, but that’s why they play the games!

      Reply
      • kiermaier

        6 years ago

        3rd place team who do you have in front of them besides the royals lol

        Reply
        • TheWestCoastRyan

          6 years ago

          Twins and Indians

        • wants to be a GM

          6 years ago

          Rajai
          Lindor
          Kipnis
          Santana
          Napoli
          Gomes
          Chisenhall
          Almonte
          Urshela
          Hmm…not quite as good as the Tigers.

        • Sky14

          6 years ago

          There rotation is much better with Kluber, Carrasco, Salazar, and Bauer.

      • skip

        6 years ago

        Hahaha

        Reply
      • bartoloshomie

        6 years ago

        You must be a yankee fan

        Reply
        • MB923

          6 years ago

          How does calling the Tigers a 3rd place team make someone a Yankee fan?

    • tccakes

      6 years ago

      Switch salty with McCann. McCann has way more upside.

      Reply
    • miggy4prez

      6 years ago

      Have to think Salty’s coming off the bench instead of McCann

      Reply
    • adshadbolt

      6 years ago

      McCann catches not salty

      Reply
    • motorcitykittycommittee

      6 years ago

      Salty as the starter in your lineup? Uhhhhh…not most days bud.

      Reply
    • Macs13

      6 years ago

      did you forget the season that McCann had last year, as a rookie? Salty, on the other hand, is a terrible C. he’ll be battling for the backup job. Gotta flip those two on your lineup. Also, your order is way off. VMart will be cleanup. Upton will hit 6th. he’s a 1 for 1 swap for Cespy’s spot.

      Reply
      • mctigers

        6 years ago

        I peg Upton to bat 2nd… solid OBP and other high K guys have thrived hitting in front of Miguel Cabrera (eg. Torii Hunter).
        Kinsler, Upton, Cabrera, Victor, JD, Castellanos, McCann, Maybin/Gose, Iglesias

        Reply
  2. Cam

    6 years ago

    Logical. Gotta make hay while the sun shines – their window is closing.

    Reply
  3. jtt11

    6 years ago

    This comment may seem silly to a lot of people. I grew up a Yankee fan during the boss’s reign. He would spend anything, and do anything to win. And to be honest, we, Yankees fans as a whole, never appreciated it.
    Tigers fans, you go out and buy the crap out of little Caesars pizzas. You have an owner in illitch that is currently second to NONE. I have a lot of respect for Michigan sports. I lived the for th 0-16 season and the atrocious mess that was the Tigers. You have an owner who wants to win. Support the crap out of him.

    Reply
    • mctigers

      6 years ago

      I’ve tried, but man do those hot and ready pizzas tear me up…

      Reply
  4. skip

    6 years ago

    And they get to keep there 1st round pick great pick up!

    Reply
  5. todd76

    6 years ago

    Dang. I was hoping the Braves would sign J Upton for 5-6 years….

    Reply
    • NL_East_Rivalry

      6 years ago

      He is too streaky and costs a draft pick. I’d be okay with a 5/120 or 6/135 for Cespedes backloaded, but the Angels would probably be willing to beat that deal.

      10/20/30/30/30 or 10/20/25/25/25/30

      Braves probably want to spend big on a star, but if stars are getting over 200 mil, I don’t want them

      Reply
  6. KingSall77

    6 years ago

    Great lineup definitely in the top 3 in the A.L.

    Reply
  7. harmony55

    6 years ago

    With the acquisitions of Justin Upton, Jordan Zimmermann, Mike Pelfrey, Mark Lowe, Francisco Rodriguez and Cameron Maybin, where does the Detroit payroll stand in relation to the luxury tax threshold?

    Reply
    • miggy4prez

      6 years ago

      Jason Beck has it around 195m, before benefits

      Reply
  8. Nola Di Bari 67

    6 years ago

    V Mart is breaking down rapidly and so is Cabrera. That eliminates two from this ” Awesome” lineup pretty quickly.

    Reply
    • Macs13

      6 years ago

      Cabrera won yet another batting title. he’ll hit 30/100 in his sleep every year. perhaps you’re unaware, because he became a star as a teenager, that he’s only 32 years old. He isn’t breaking down anytime this side of the next 4 seasons

      Reply
  9. greatd

    6 years ago

    This move might motivate the White Sox to go more in on Cespedes.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL

    Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain

    Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks

    DeGrom MRI Reveals “Continued Healing”; Still No Clear Timetable For Return

    Boras: Michael Conforto Not Ruling Out Late-Season Return

    Mariners Option Jarred Kelenic, Claim Adrian Sampson

    Kumar Rocker Signs With Frontier League’s Tri-City ValleyCats

    Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List

    Bryce Harper Has Tear In UCL, Won’t Throw For Four Weeks

    Padres Sign Robinson Cano

    Gerardo Parra Retires

    Mariners Promote George Kirby, Place Ken Giles On 60-Day IL

    Diamondbacks To Promote Alek Thomas

    A’s Reinstate Ramon Laureano, Designate Jorge Juan

    Recent

    Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL

    Darwinzon Hernandez Undergoes Knee Surgery

    Joe Panik Retires

    Brewers Outright Alec Bettinger

    Diamondbacks Select Grayson Greiner

    Cubs Reinstate Marcus Stroman

    Rangers Option Nick Solak, Release Matt Carpenter

    Braves Win Arbitration Hearing Against Luke Jackson

    Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain

    Avila: Manning Exit Not Due To Injury

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Story Rumors
    • Frankie Montas Rumors
    • Michael Conforto Rumors
    • Arbitration Tracker
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version