The Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves have resumed trade
talks involving outfielder Justin Upton, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.
D-Backs talks with the Braves about JUpton have resumed; ATL said to be in hard on this. They're likely the frontrunner, if JUpton is dealt.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 23, 2013
It was reported last night that the Diamondbacks would like to resolve their outfield situation in the next few days, which would likely
have them trade either Upton or Jason Kubel. General manager Kevin Towers is reportedly
leaving for vacation on Friday, but it’s not being set as a hard deadline for
negotiations.
It appears that the Diamondbacks have an offer on the table
from the Braves, and as of last night Atlanta was waiting to hear back from
Arizona. The Diamondbacks also discussed Kubel with the Baltimore Orioles
yesterday, so it’s no guarantee that Upton will be the outfielder traded.
By acquiring Upton, Atlanta would add him to a mix that
already includes his older brother, B.J. Upton, and former top prospect Jason
Heyward.
The Texas Rangers, the other team to be most-heavily tied to
Upton this offseason, hasn’t talked to the Diamondbacks about the slugger in
weeks, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. You never want to count Texas and
GM Jon Daniels out, but he Braves are considered the frontrunner for Upton at
this point.
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