DBacks and Mariners agree to Upton blockbuster; but Upton invokes no-trade clause

[Diamondback Jay]

Blocking the deal.

From what I'm hearing, the offer was "substantial" and included Dustin Ackley, Taijuan Walker and Nick Franklin, however, Upton has Seattle on his "no-trade" list.


Damn. That would have been a MAJOR haul for AZ too.

 

[The Commish]

Wonder if he would change his tune if the Mariners agreed to extend his contract?

 

[BC867]

Hmmm. It brings back the sour memories of Shawn Marion rejecting a trade which would have brought Kevin Garnett to the Suns.

From UPTOwN to local villain. I would have thought when his buddy was traded, he'd want a fresh start. A new setting and an opportunity to achieve superstar status.

 

[Lefty]

Hmmm. It brings back the sour memories of Shawn Marion rejecting a trade which would have brought Kevin Garnett to the Suns.

From UPTOwN to local villain. I would have thought when his buddy was traded, he'd want a fresh start. A new setting and an opportunity to achieve superstar status.

Good for Upton. Seattle is where hitters die and Towers has said he probably wouldn't trade Upton. Now there is no way he will be here opening game and Towers will get taken by a team Upton can't veto.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Upton is saving Towers from himself, what a trainwreck.

 

[Lefty]

If this ever happens, why then was Bauer's traded? I can't believe they want more relievers and another shortstop. Towers has no plan whatsoever except to destroy this franchise.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

If this ever happens, why then was Bauer's traded? I can't believe they want more relievers and another shortstop. Towers has no plan whatsoever except to destroy this franchise.

I spoke as loudly against the Bauer deal as anyone... But I assure you, Taijuan Walker's no middle reliever.. Not long term.

 

[overseascardfan]

If this ever happens, why then was Bauer's traded? I can't believe they want more relievers and another shortstop. Towers has no plan whatsoever except to destroy this franchise.

Actually Walker is considered their top pitching prospect, not a reliever but I agree this deal would really make the Bauer deal look like a dump, which it still does. I mean who gives up 1 of the Top 5 prospects in baseball for a SS that is mediocre at defense and that is his best tool?

 

[Broseph]

I know J-UP is still young, but man that guy just hasn't turned out to be what he thought he was going to be. I hope he proves me wrong if he is still playing for the D-backs this year and has a monster year, but I wouldn't of minded seeing this deal go down, and I know I am the minority because 98% of D-backs fan love J-up, I am just not seeing it.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Here's the crux of the deal that would have been:

One of Walker/Hultzen/Paxton
Nick Franklin
Charlie Furbush
Stephen Pryor

Word is, Arizona is extremely high on Walker, Seattle's best pitching prospect, who has elite level potential.

I'm not one who is on this "let's trade Upton" bandwagon, but THIS is the kind of deal I would approve of if he is dealt.

 

[The Commish]

Actually Walker is considered their top pitching prospect, not a reliever but I agree this deal would really make the Bauer deal look like a dump, which it still does. I mean who gives up 1 of the Top 5 prospects in baseball for a SS that is mediocre at defense and that is his best tool?

Are you talking about Gregorious? His D is pretty well regarded and significantly above average.

Don't disagree about your point in general, but his glove will be an asset.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

Wonder if he would change his tune if the Mariners agreed to extend his contract?

Just extend? No

But if they added some player options including one on the current last year on his deal right now. Yes

No-trade lists that can be updated every year are mostly used as a negotiation tool. It's exactly why Upton updated it this year to include the Mariners.

In regards to Kevin Towers, his off-season has been a total cluster****. We sold CY low for a utility SS and right to pay Heath Bell $13 mil over the next 2 years. This was done because we had a surplus of outfielders and we didn't want to pay him $10-19.5 million for the next year or two.

Then we go out and sign a inferior player in Cody Ross to play outfield for $26-34.5 million for the next 3-4 years. Now we have a surplus of outfielders again and we overpaid Heath Bell and Cody Ross.

The one heralded move was signing McCarthy for 2 years at $15.5 million. Not too bad of a risk for someone that can be a good #2-3 starter.

Since we have to eliminate anything we just gained from a smart signing we then trade our 1st round pick from a year ago for a SS prospect who is good defensively but might never have the tools to contribute offensively. We at least get Tony Sipp too who is a decent reliever but we just sold low again.

Then since we signed Cody Ross and have a surplus of outfielders again, we continue to shop Upton, this time for a SS prospect who might be better than Didi, a very good SP prospect on the level of Bauer, and a couple relievers who might contribute. It's a good return for Upton but when you look at the big picture, its horrific.

After everything is done we pretty much traded Upton for 2 decent SS prospects/ the rights to pay Bell 13 mil/2 potentially ok relievers/Pennington. Then we gave up CY and got a inferior player in Ross who we will pay more. The Bauer and Walker swap is pretty much even. If you throw out the McCarthy signing, I dont think it would have been possible to have a worse off-season.

 

[WildBB]

Upton is saving Towers from himself, what a trainwreck.

Really?!. If reports were right that would be quite a haul of pitchers.

Maybe they can broker a third party deal with Atlanta or Texas.

 

[WildBB]

Then we gave up CY and got a inferior player in Ross who we will pay more. The Bauer and Walker swap is pretty much even. If you throw out the McCarthy signing, I dont think it would have been possible to have a worse off-season.

Don't know how someone can play much more inferior than CY and Upton did last yr. And now they're making more dough.

Ross will give you better consistency at least, but the signing is what the market dictated.

Bell can be dominant and has been in this division. Miami was a horrable fit.

 

[Matt L]

Any time you can of give up on a young player who has shown promise so you can play your platoon outfielder who has more than likely peaked, you just have to do it.

 

[overseascardfan]

Quite a haul, but I would have taken out the 2 relievers and added either Paxton or Hultzen to the deal with Walker and Franklin. We have plenty of relievers on the ML roster and in the minors, SP's to add to the stable should be the priority in any Upton deal. Maybe they can broker a deal with a 3rd team as some on the board have suggested. If a third team cannot be added, this package should be what other teams looking to acquire Upton should looking to offer, otherwise go pound sand.

 

[SunsTzu]

Any time you can of give up on a young player who has shown promise so you can play your platoon outfielder who has more than likely peaked, you just have to do it.

Only once you've thinned out your high level pitching prospects, because you certainly don't want to fall into the trap of having too many great pitchers.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

Don't know how someone can play much more inferior than CY and Upton did last yr. And now they're making more dough.

Ross will give you better consistency at least, but the signing is what the market dictated.

Despite missing 60 games with either a injury, or being benched, CY still hit .231 with 14 home runs, 8 steals and great defense. In the past 3 years, CY has produced a WAR of 4.6, 4.6, and 2.8. During that same time frame Cody Ross has produced WAR's of 2.3, 1.0, and 2.4.

Meanwhile Upton has produced WAR's of 4.8, 3.0, 6.4, and 2.5 the past 4 seasons. This despite a injury 2 years ago and a thumb injury last year that most guys would have sat through.

I think it's time to stop exaggerating just how bad CY and Upton were. At their worst they have still been better than Ross for the past 3-4 years. Meanwhile we will be paying Ross 6 mil next year while CY makes 7 mil and Upton makes 6.75.

There is no argument that you can make that Cody Ross is better or will be better in the future than CY and Upton. The market didn't dictate us spending on Cody Ross when we had better outfielders being paid just about the same amount of money.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

Heath Bell might help out but paying him $13 million for the next 2 years to be a set-up guy is not the brightest thing to do considering Towers's one strength as a gm is putting together good bullpens with reasonable prices. Bell was a luxury not a necessity.

 

[BC867]

Any time you can of give up on a young player who has shown promise so you can play your platoon outfielder who has more than likely peaked, you just have to do it.

They haven't given up on Upton so they "can play your platoon outfielder who has more than likely peaked."

They gave up on Upton because of his lack of discipline (constantly overthrowing the cutoff man to show off his arm), showboating (sliding to try to catch fly balls nowhere near the wall, then coming up short), not driving in runs in the heart of the batting order (either 3rd or 5th) and, the kiss of death, Ken Kendrick criticizing him to the Press. Addition by subtraction.

Upton must take responsibility for his inconsistent behavior and flaky attitude. And I suggest that D'backs fans not look for other players to blame it on.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

They haven't given up on Upton so they "can play your platoon outfielder who has more than likely peaked."

They gave up on Upton because of his lack of discipline (constantly overthrowing the cutoff man to show off his arm), showboating (sliding to try to catch fly balls nowhere near the wall, then coming up short), not driving in runs in the heart of the batting order (either 3rd or 5th) and, the kiss of death, Ken Kendrick criticizing him to the Press. Addition by subtraction.

Upton must take responsibility for his inconsistent behavior and flaky attitude. And I suggest that D'backs fans not look for other players to blame it on.

The guy is 25 years old and has had a MVP type season, 1 great season, and 2 decent seasons. You can bring up his attitude and lack of discipline but every player has their weaknesses. He has never acted out, or been in trouble despite getting called up when he was 19. His weaknesses deal with him getting frustrated with himself, not showboating (which is the most ridiculous thing I've seen written in a very long time). He makes some bad plays in the outfield but even at his worst, he is still a good defender and gets to balls Kubel and Ross would never dream of.

He's had to deal with constant trade rumors for how long now? How many times has he made a big deal out of it? Yet him leaving is addition by subtraction? If you want to have the garbage midnight sports radio opinion that's fine, but don't try presenting it here with people that can actually think.

In regards to Ken Kendrick, he is a moron and needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. He is nothing but a detriment to baseball in Arizona.

 

[BC867]

In regards to Ken Kendrick, he is a moron and needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. He is nothing but a detriment to baseball in Arizona.

I whole-heartedly agree. But the damage is done. And now, Upton in Arizona is a daily reminder of it. That is why I listed is as one of the reasons that he would be better off somewhere else.

If you want to have the garbage midnight sports radio opinion that's fine, but don't try presenting it here with people that can actually think.

I don't listen to garbage sports radio programs, midnight or otherwise. Evidently you do, resorting to personal attacks against those with whom you disagree. That's a shame!

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

I don't listen to garbage sports radio programs, midnight or otherwise. Evidently you do, resorting to personal attacks against those with whom you disagree. That's a shame!

Touche

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Listening to the DBacks Hot Stove show tonight with Jeff Munn, the one thing they kept talking about was what a positive influence in the clubhouse Cody Ross is everywhere he goes.

To me, it seemed like a shot at Upton, Bauer, and Young. Might be more to what BC was saying than I gave him credit for. The moves made may make more sense from a clubhouse perspective.