Justin Upton and C Johnson traded to Atlanta for Prado, Delgado, prospects

[BC867]

I do think that AzCentral.com hit the nail on the head with their sub-headline in the BRAVE MOVE article.

Trade chatter ends with Upton being sent to Atlanta, dropping curtain on his time with D-Backs that had moments but saw big potential unfilfilled.

Whether the D'backs were unfair to saddle a young player with the opportunity to be the face of the franchise or the player fell short, it leaves a negative situation for both. It was bound to remain that way until he was given a new opportunity elsewhere. Upton recently asked the D'backs to remove the UPTOwN sign from RF, but it is difficult to back-pedal.

Although Martin Prado doesn't have the power potential of Upton, he has hit .300 in three of his last four seasons.

Last season, he hit .301 to Upton's .280, had 186 hits to Upton's 155 and 70 RBI's to Upton's 67 (despite hitting 10 HR's to Upton's 17) and he doesn't strike out a lot.

The D'backs have made it clear over the past few years that they prefer to drive in runs with line drive hitters who put the ball in play, rather than a lineup of big boppers who whiff, such as Reynolds and Young.

There is room for just one in the heart of the batting order and I prefer the LH bat and maturity of Jason Kubel at this time. His assists in the outfield didn't hurt, either.

 

[Lefty]

http://www.talkingchop.com/2013/1/2...-diamondbacks-reason-for-trading-justin-upton

 

[BC867]

http://www.talkingchop.com/2013/1/2...-diamondbacks-reason-for-trading-justin-upton

Interesting article. With Gibson preferring gritty to cool, it made it clear that one of them had to go.

And with Chris Young gone, Upton lost his mentor (albeit not a very good one) and will now be with his older brother. That is an important factor in this situation.

It was inevitable and really is a win-win for Upton, Gibson, the D'backs and the Braves. That defines a good trade. Especially if, in exchange, you can get a .300 hitter who drives in runs without striking out.

 

[Phrazbit]

We're getting ONE YEAR of a .300 hitter... its an awful trade. Towers handling of the situation was as bad as it could have possibly been. He murdered Upton's trade value by waving him around so many times eventually forcing himself to trade for pennies on the dollar.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

We're getting ONE YEAR of a .300 hitter... its an awful trade. Towers handling of the situation was as bad as it could have possibly been. He murdered Upton's trade value by waving him around so many times eventually forcing himself to trade for pennies on the dollar.

No he is resigning. Reported to be almost done already. Was required to make the trade.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

No he is resigning. Reported to be almost done already. Was required to make the trade.

100% FALSE

and it doesn't change the fact that we got him for 1 year. Acquiring the rights to talk contract with him a year before he hits the market does not = getting him for more than 1 year.

We could have talked contract with him next year, after Atlanta let him go because of his asking price.

Next step for the Towers apologists, justifying paying Prado 11 million a year while forgetting that you brought up money issues as a reason that the Diamondbacks dealt CY and were dealing Upton.

 

[Phrazbit]

No he is resigning. Reported to be almost done already. Was required to make the trade.

Ive heard Gambo SPECULATE that they would have to have a contract in the words (because otherwise the trade is idiotic) but I have not heard anyone with any source say anything about a new deal being signed.

All I have heard is that he was asking for well over 10 mil a year from Atlanta... and if thats the case then we are getting ONE YEAR of this guy.

 

[82CardsGrad]

100% FALSE

and it doesn't change the fact that we got him for 1 year. Acquiring the rights to talk contract with him a year before he hits the market does not = getting him for more than 1 year.

We could have talked contract with him next year, after Atlanta let him go because of his asking price.

Next step for the Towers apologists, justifying paying Prado 11 million a year while forgetting that you brought up money issues as a reason that the Diamondbacks dealt CY and were dealing Upton.

The deal was agreed to before-hand. Towers can't officially say so, however, he and Prado's agent are close and have worked a ton together over the years. Upton would still be in AZ if the team couldn't sign Prado to a long-term deal.

 

[Dr. Jones]

As a 30 year Braves fan..... The Dbacks got crushed in this trade. Sorry guys.

 

[Mulli]

As a 30 year Braves fan..... The Dbacks got crushed in this trade. Sorry guys.

Ya, well, uh, Randy Johnson just perfect gamed you again!

 

[82CardsGrad]

As a 30 year Braves fan..... The Dbacks got crushed in this trade. Sorry guys.

As a near 50 year baseball fan, the Braves overpaid BJ and will soon be overpaying his 'lil bro Justin... Sorry Braves guys...

 

[Phrazbit]

As a near 50 year baseball fan, the Braves overpaid BJ and will soon be overpaying his 'lil bro Justin... Sorry Braves guys...

I'd rather overpay for an all-star than overpay for a replacement level player like Cody Ross.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

The deal was agreed to before-hand. Towers can't officially say so, however, he and Prado's agent are close and have worked a ton together over the years. Upton would still be in AZ if the team couldn't sign Prado to a long-term deal.

You said the deal was agreed upon beforehand but then said him and Prado's agent are close. So what it is? Is the deal agreed upon or did they just agree to work on a deal and its close?

Asked if the prospect of signing Martin Prado to a contract extension factored into the decision

Towers said, "We were going to do the deal anyway." After he learned that the Braves had discussions last month with Prado about a possible extension, Towers decided to pursue the issue with Prado's agent, Peter Greenberg. And now, he said, the Diamondbacks are "cautiously optimistic we'll have him beyond this year."

 

[Phrazbit]

You said the deal was agreed upon beforehand but then said him and Prado's agent are close. So what it is? Is the deal agreed upon or did they just agree to work on a deal and its close?

In other words... a 25 year old who even as a "disappointment" is on a superstar career trajectory... for a one year rental and some really borderline prospects. Awesome. Thats basically as bad as it gets. I wonder how much further Towers would have gone to tank Upton's value if we hadnt moved him this year.

 

[Bayless2Budinger]

In other words... a 25 year old who even as a "disappointment" is on a superstar career trajectory... for a one year rental and some really borderline prospects. Awesome. Thats basically as bad as it gets. I wonder how much further Towers would have gone to tank Upton's value if we hadnt moved him this year.

Let's keep in mind that the top prospect in the deal, Delgado, was on his way to the Cubs mid-season for the rights to rent Ryan Dempster before Dempster vetoed it.

Delgado has had his value, and might be a decent starter but that just gives you a idea on his value currently.

 

[devilalum]

As a 30 year Braves fan..... The Dbacks got crushed in this trade. Sorry guys.

Have you actually watched Upton play?

 

[AZ Native]

In other words... a 25 year old who even as a "disappointment" is on a superstar career trajectory... for a one year rental and some really borderline prospects. Awesome. Thats basically as bad as it gets. I wonder how much further Towers would have gone to tank Upton's value if we hadnt moved him this year.

Superstar trajectory of 17 hrs and 67 rbi's last year? After 5 full years in the league? Not going to mention his lack of effort on defense. The next Willie Mays, yeah right, I remember my first beer. Prado will do well here. Wish J Up nothing but the best.

 

[Phrazbit]

Superstar trajectory of 17 hrs and 67 rbi's last year? After 5 full years in the league? Not going to mention his lack of effort on defense. The next Willie Mays, yeah right, I remember my first beer. Prado will do well here. Wish J Up nothing but the best.

Two time all-star, 4th in the MVP vote... all before the age of 25.

The team did their best to get the least value possible in return for him, constantly floating him out there, inexcusably pulling the trigger on a trade that they KNEW Upton would veto (that killed his value more than anything else previous). Supposedly being worried about money... then signing a replacement level bum like Cody Ross for 26 mil...

 

[devilalum]

The team did their best to get the least value possible in return for him, constantly floating him out there, inexcusably pulling the trigger on a trade that they KNEW Upton would veto (that killed his value more than anything else previous).

I agree with all this and my biggest problem was Kendrick calling him out during the season. All this certainly didn't help increase his value but 25 year old "superstars" don't go on the market unless there are major issues and every team in baseball is aware that Justin Upton is a major enigma. That's the main reason all the offers were so underwhelming.

If teams believed he was Braun, Trout, McCutchen there would have been a bidding war.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

No he is resigning. Reported to be almost done already. Was required to make the trade.

If this is the case (and I have no reason to doubt your word), the deal might be easier to swallow for those 100 percent against it and not just sore over Upton being dealt.

There's some real solid prospects in this deal. Nick Ahmed is one I'm extremely high on (and REALLY hope KT doesn't trade him in that rumored garbage Porcello deal). He's a hustler, who has infield instincts, speed on bases (he's got 58 steals since being drafted out of UConn in 2011), hits for a decent/respectable average and OBP. While he's not anywhere near as flashy as Gregorious (sic), he also won't ever commit 20 errors in a season (sorry, but 40 errors in 2 seasons isn't good d in my book).

Right now, he's about 2 seasons away from moving up to Phoenix. Worst case, by then if Gregorious becomes Derek Jeter Jr. like KT seems to think he's going to be, with Ahmed's size (6'3, 205), it's not far fetched to think he can move to the OF to be the long term replacement for Ross or Kubel; or over to 2B to replace Hill. Kid is a baseball sponge and works hard, is gritty and unselfish. I think everyone will really like him in the future.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I agree with all this and my biggest problem was Kendrick calling him out during the season. All this certainly didn't help increase his value but 25 year old "superstars" don't go on the market unless there are major issues and every team in baseball is aware that Justin Upton is a major enigma. That's the main reason all the offers were so underwhelming.

If teams believed he was Braun, Trout, McCutchen there would have been a bidding war.

I think a lot of teams were reluctant to give full value because of these reasons.

You have a 25 year old who already has finished in the top 5 in MVP voting and been part of playoff teams. May I also mention, he's got 3 years left on a contract that is more than economically reasonable (especially in a post-season where we've seen some absolutely absurd contracts get handed out to players really not worth the price tag)?

Realistically, I lump this one in the same category I lumped the Bauer deal in... Kendrick and people in power didn't like the guy; so he was dealt. Granted, the return in this deal was exponentially better than the return they got for Bauer; but the concept to me is the same.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I'd rather overpay for an all-star than overpay for a replacement level player like Cody Ross.

^This.

 

[overseascardfan]

There's some real solid prospects in this deal. Nick Ahmed is one I'm extremely high on (and REALLY hope KT doesn't trade him in that rumored garbage Porcello deal).

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Now ARZ is looking at Porcello? I am for it, it gives ARZ another SP which I would rather have than the most of the garbage we got from ATL. I guess it depends on what DET would want in addition to Ahmed or maybe we trade Gregious since Ahmed looks like the better all around SS (offense & defense). If we have to include a top pitching prospect like Skaggs, Corbin or Bradley then forget it.