Now that Justin Upton has been released by the Angels, they are on the hook for Upton’s $28MM salary for this year. Any other team that signs Upton would only have to pay him a prorated portion of the new $700K league minimum, with that amount being subtracted from what the Angels are paying.
Although the 34-year-old hasn’t produced above the league average rate since 2018, that no-risk situation has led to interest from several teams, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. However, all of the interested teams are non-contenders, whose interest in Upton is merely in hoping for a quick bounceback and then flipping him to a contending team at the trade deadline.
Upton’s preference is reportedly to play for a contender, which is why he hasn’t accepted any of the overtures from other teams just yet. Although these suitors intend to trade Upton to a contender later, there’s always the chance that a trade doesn’t come together, either due to injury or poor performance, leaving him stranded. It seems he doesn’t want to take the risk of that happening, at least for now. As Nightengale notes, Upton hasn’t played in the postseason in almost a decade, with his last appearance coming in 2013.
It was recently reported that the Diamondbacks were considering a reunion with Upton, which would make for a nice story since that’s where Upton started his career and blossomed into a star. Although Nightengale doesn’t mention any teams by name, it’s possible that the D-Backs fit the mold of a non-contending team that Upton is hesitant to join. They’re coming off a miserable 52-110 season where the top two teams in the division, the Giants and Dodgers, won 107 and 106 games.
It had also been reported that the Twins had checked in on Upton last week. Like the Diamondbacks, they’re also coming off a down year, but were aggressive in reloading for 2022, perhaps making Minnesota a more likely contender than Arizona. Since their reported interest in Upton last week, their outfield need has grown, with Alex Kirilloff landing on the IL and Byron Buxton leaving Friday’s game with a knee injury, although it’s possible Buxton will avoid a trip to the IL himself.
If the Angels were not going to play Adell they should have kept Upton and sent Adell to triple A. I have no idea what this team is doing. Marsh and Adell need to be playing everyday somewhere.
Of course this team intentionally walks Seager with the bases loaded, so no one knows what this team is doing.
Is there some point at which he would endanger his 28 million by turning down chances to play in MLB? He wouldn’t get the money if he officially retired, after all.
No, MLB contracts are guaranteed. Long as he doesn’t sign retirement papers with the league, the money is his.
Actually I think at this point he can actually retire and they’re still on the hook for it. I think they have to retire by a certain day for them to be off the hook for it. I’d have to look up the article, I think it was Gil Meche, who retired and left money on the table. Although I don’t think it matters to much, because I doubt Upton retires during the season, with some kind of hope of playing for a contender, even if small.
July 1st
False
This article isn’t good for my growing disdain of modern baseball.
“Upton’s preference is reportedly to play for a contender, which is why he hasn’t accepted any of the overtures from other teams just yet.”
It’s obvious that Upton has not looked at his own stats recently. like in the last 5 years. He should latch on to the first team that offers him a chance to play otherwise he will force his own retirement.
Players don’t retire until they sign the papers. Can be years from now, whether he plays or not. He can turn down any offer he wants and the Angels still owe him his money. He’ll just wait until some contender has an injury or wants a lefty masher for the playoffs. Until then, paid vacation.
seamaholic – Yeah I agree. What I meant was he will sit out the season and collect the $28 mil waiting for a contender. When no team in contention calls for a below average player, he will have no choice but to hang it up or play for the Orioles, et al.
Given that choice I think most players would hang it up
If a contender has a need for a lefty masher, AND DOESNT HAVE ANY PAYROLL ROOM to actually get one. There! I fixed it for you.
Upton rocked a 127 OPS+ vs lefties last year. You aren’t gonna do much better than that if that’s what you’re looking for, and assuming you can play him at DH.
‘Lefty masher’ LOL
I mean, you could bother to look his numbers up and realize that yeah, he is.
Upton’s preference is reportedly to play for a contender
===================================================
Which is, of course, why he played for the Tigers and Angels the past 6 years.
Now that Upton got his $$$ he wants a ring.. He should go to Boston and platoon with JBJ, Arauz to AAA, Arroyo to U.
More likely he’ll go and sign in Japan or Korea for a season I would guess.
$106M for 2 WAR? Will the Angels ever learn?
Nope
Worst managed oganization in all baseball. Classic is the fans of this dud like to manage small market spending. Experts.
I am willing to bet there isnt one small market “cheap” team that spent more per win than the angels. Nothing like collecting $28M in a pile and setting fire to it.
Right now the problem is a guy who shouldn’t be in the major leagues is batting cleanup, a guy who can’t play first base is playing first base, a guy who can’t play second base is playing second base, and one of the Angels best prospect in years is on the bench.
I’ve been saying this for a few years. Maddon wants to show he’s the smartest guy in the room by doing things no one else will do, and shouldn’t do.
I agree with you Joe.
Yup. And it’s 4-1 Angels.
Here comes down voter…thinking he knows everything about everything and really is totally clueless…wait guys this isn’t over yet he will come back on here and look completely foolish
#rentfree
Um, who is living rent free?
“THE downvoter
April 15, 2022
John…see? Classic. Wait…it wont end just yet.
Note: Jimmy has more upvotes than the one Cards81 gave himself. This will not just be left unaddressed…..Themed will help level it, but then it will be “burner accounts! activate!””
Seems like a copy cat style quote from 2 days ago. Whats that say about rent free? Hmmm.
Downvoter 2
Cards81 0
Oh, and if you need ointment for the burn, let me know.
Lol what a dbag…you actually responded
The message was sent, and obviously, resides rent free in your little brain. You know it, I know it and we all can see it, fan boy. Now you run along and have a blessed day.
Dude you’re a weirdo who I never even heard of till you said something about my username on a cardinals post…glad I have fans..but seriously dude it’s a little creepy…god bless
Imagine being so bad that you make the Eric Hosmer contract look good lol
Sounds like the perfect situation for Upton. Get signed by a non-contender, get a lot of playing time and show you can still hit, get dealt to a contender. Not sure what the hold up is. Sounds like in the end he’s getting exactly what he wants.
They’re only interested because he’s inexpensive.
Brian Cashman… don’t you dare do it!
I see him in Yankee Pinstripes before long
Go get him Minnesota!
If the twins don’t push to sign Upton .. it means they are oblivious to the team the have..
Upton needs to go somewhere he can play regularly. He isn’t productive part-time or as a pinch-hitter.
I can think of a team
since you can add certain things to these deals,maybe upton should consider asking for any of the non contenders looking to sign him to trade him by july 31st or grant him his release shortly after (as in, maybe they didn’t trade him because they were sorta in it, then hit the wall in early august) giving him enough time to latch onto a contender before the roster deadline (assuming any team would want him).
That’s not legal by the CBA. They can give him a mid season opt out, but they cannot commit legally to trade him.
Bradley Zilcher ,Ramel Tap( the ball to second ya ) or Justin Downton (up long gone ) still take over the first two lol
He’ll be a dodger or a yankee before long
Truly hope the White Sox are not among them, as the rumor suggested they might be.
the amount of money the Angels have wasted on released names like Upton, Pujols, and Hamilton (yes he was released by the Rangers with the Angels footing the $22 million) could have funded the A’s payroll for about 3 years…and the A’s would still have the better record in that amount of time.
Upton is perfect for the DBACKS, they won’t win 50 games this year