Justin Upton Thread

[Lefty]

And it isn't like they were even off by a million to begin with. Wasn't it more around 750,000? Joe Jr. is trash though, so he will try to screw us before leaving.

He has already left.

 

[overseascardfan]

So now we are only going to have a week before next year's draft to get him in or we lose him, I can't see why the D'backs are putting themselves and the fans through this again, it doesn't pay to pick the best talent available anymore because you set yourself up for long negotiation talks that turn ugly over a couple of million dollars.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0928dbnotes0928.html

 

[IndyDevil]

Upton signed!!!!!!!!

Just saw on the ESPN News ticker that Upton was signed by the D'Backs (per Peter Gammons - consider the source)...if that is true - - WOOHOO!!!

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Just saw on the ESPN News ticker that Upton was signed by the D'Backs (per Peter Gammons - consider the source)...if that is true - - WOOHOO!!!

Well.. here's another source stating that Upton was on the verge of signing:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/diamondbacks/2006-01-06-upton-contract_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA

Top pick Upton set to sign with Diamondbacks
By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports Weekly

Justin Upton, the No. 1 pick in the June free agent draft, has agreed to a record signing bonus with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Upton, USA TODAY's 2005 high school player of the year, is scheduled to undergo a physical on Monday and a press conference is scheduled for the afternoon in Phoenix.

The deal is expected to pay in excess of $6 million, the largest-ever sum for a drafted player on a minor-league contract.

"We agreed to terms, but we need to finalize a couple of minor details to complete the deal," said Larry Reynolds, Upton's adviser.

The previous record for a signing bonus was $5.3 million by outfielder Joe Borchard of the Chicago White Sox.

At Great Bridge H.S. (Chesapeake, Va.) this season, Upton hit .508 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI. In three seasons, he batted .498 with 27 homers and 95 RBI.

He is the brother of Tampa Bay Devil Rays infielder B.J. Upton, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft.

Oh wow... what excellent news indeed!!!!!!

 

[nathan]

 

[Lefty]

That is great to hear.

 

[Dback Jon]

Woo Hoo!!!

 

[boondockdrunk]

Wow! Let's all hope this record deal works out a lot better than the previous player with the record deal. 6 million is a lot of money.

The sad thing is, I see the D'backs looking to play it cheap in the next draft (which should be pitcher heavy). Hopefully, we can find a diamond in a few months.

 

[green machine]

Just excellent news.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

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Best news of the post-season!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0106dbacks.html

Physical and press conference set for monday. $6M bonus is quite a lot of money, let's hope Upton earns it.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0106dbacks.html

Physical and press conference set for monday. $6M bonus is quite a lot of money, let's hope Upton earns it.

From the article:
One solution could be Drew eventually shifting to left field as the replacement for veteran star Luis Gonzalez, who is entering what most expect to be his final season with the Diamondbacks, despite an option year remaining on his contract for 2007.

I thought Carlos Quentin was the heir-apparent in LF.... I surmise what will happen is that either Drew or Upton will end-up at 2B since Hudson's contract would expire (around the time that Upton would be ML ready to become a regular starter in the IF) or perhaps the Dbacks would simply trade Hudson during his contract year (I think he has 2-3 years left on his deal and IIRC is up for arbitration)....

Ideally, Drew/Upton would make-up the DP combo for the years to come with perhaps Tracy at 3B, 1B Jackson, Montero C, RF probably Carlos Gonzalez and of course Young in CF.....

Edit: The long-term rotation obviously is quite a concern, but that's where the Dbacks would invest all their money by acquiring at least 2 of the elite FA starters that will be available during next year's FA, which we all know is extremely deep... I think Mock and Torra are at least 2-years away, so perhaps it isnt all too bad.....

 

[boondockdrunk]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/060106upton.html

No. 1 Pick Upton Close To Signing

By Alan Matthews
January 6, 2006

Justin Upton, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are close to finalizing a deal that includes the largest signing bonus for a player signing with the team that drafted him.

Upton's advisor Larry Reynolds said Friday that the deal had not been finalized. Reynolds termed reports that Upton will receive a signing bonus of $6 million as, "not 100 percent accurate. (Six million) is a little low," Reynolds said. "It's in that range . . . It's going to be pretty strong."

The previous record bonus was $5.3 million the White Sox paid Stanford outfielder Joe Borchard, the first pick in the 2000 draft. Matt White signed for a $10.2 million bonus as an amateur free agent in 1996 with the Devil Rays, which remains the all-time bonus record.

Upton was the consensus top player available in the 2005 draft. He was Baseball America's 2005 High School Player of the Year after batting .519-11-32 in 54 at-bats as a senior at Great Bridge High in Chesapeake, Va., homering every 4.9 at-bats.

He was expected to fly Monday to Arizona, where the contract will be finalized after he takes a physical and attends a press conference to make an official announcement.

"We still have a couple of minor deals to make it final, we've agreed in principle to terms, but we're not 100 percent done," Reynolds said. "But we've agreed on numbers and stuff.

"They have a new regime over there and (Diamondbacks general manager) Josh Byrnes came in and, frankly, did a good job."

The Diamondbacks' original offer to Upton following the draft included a bonus reportedly near $4 million. In October, Arizona hired Byrnes to replace former GM Joe Garagiola Jr., who resigned in August. Calls to Byrnes and Diamondbacks scouting director Mike Rizzo were not immediately returned.

Upton, the younger brother of Devil Rays shortstop B.J. Upton, had committed to North Carolina State but opted not to enroll when classes began. As negotiations stalled, he was considering playing this spring at Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College and would have had to enroll by Jan. 16 to be eligible. Once he attended class at Louisburg, the Diamondbacks would have had to wait until the completion of his junior college season before resuming negotiations.

Instead, it appears Upton will be in a Diamondbacks uniform when spring training begins.

"Justin wants to go play pro baseball," Reynolds said.

Nice little article

Ideally, Drew/Upton would make-up the DP combo for the years to come with perhaps Tracy at 3B, 1B Jackson, Montero C, RF probably Carlos Gonzalez and of course Young in CF.....

Right, that is the ideal team. The only problem is... what are we to do when they all become Free Agents and want a lot of cash? Hopefully, we will save up now because that team would be great to have for seven to eight years!!

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Right, that is the ideal team. The only problem is... what are we to do when they all become Free Agents and want a lot of cash? Hopefully, we will save up now because that team would be great to have for seven to eight years!!

True, but let's not worry about the future now!

Seriously..though.... If this franchise can follow the mode that the Twins, Athletics, and Angels have (by developing their own nucleus through their farm-system and keep them together before they're eligible to become FA, which wouldnt be for quite a few years), then it shouldnt be a major concern...

To differ though from what those teams did (by waiting until most of their players contracts were set to expire), the Dbacks would take the approach of what the Devil Rays have done (such as what they did with both Crawford and Baldelli) which is to lock them up to long-term deals in the 2nd season in the big leagues... Those signings were brilliant because those contracts in the long-run will be bargains for players of those calibers, but true.. it's somewhat of a risk because they might not live-up to the contract or sustain some injuries...

This team is in excellent financial shape for the long-term, so the Dbacks will manage to keep all those players... perhaps also they'll increase their budget from $65 mil to perhaps $85-$100 mil, which could make anything possible....

 

[dogpoo32]

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Best news of the post-season!

Couldn't have said it better!

 

[boondockdrunk]

perhaps also they'll increase their budget from $65 mil to perhaps $85-$100 mil, which could make anything possible....

We have begun to collect money from TV, right? I wonder if we will always be a medium market team.

 

[WildBB]

MOST EXCELLENT! Good job D-Backs

 

[Yuma]

I thought this kid was NOT going to be signed by us. I am so happy!

Next draft we pick the second coming of Nolan Ryan!

 

[boondockdrunk]

Diamondbacks signed shortstop Justin Upton, their first-round pick in the 2005 draft.
It's payable over five years, but Upton gets a $6.1 milion signing bonus, the largest in a minor league contract for a drafted player who was not a free agent. Upton probably won't arrive in the majors until 2008 at the earliest and it's too soon to say what position he might be playing when that happens. Still, he has to be regarded as one of baseball's best prospects. He's an outstanding offensive talent

So this signing bonus is a lot like a 5-year $6.1 million minor league contract.

 

[devilalum]

Didn't they give a $10 million dollar bonus to that useless **** Travis Lee?

IMO this makes it official. The Dbacks now have the best minor league talent in baseball, at least for position players.

 

[overseascardfan]

Didn't they give a $10 million dollar bonus to that useless **** Travis Lee?

IMO this makes it official. The Dbacks now have the best minor league talent in baseball, at least for position players.

The only rival farm system that I know of is the Angel's and maybe the Dodger's.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

Didn't they give a $10 million dollar bonus to that useless **** Travis Lee?

IMO this makes it official. The Dbacks now have the best minor league talent in baseball, at least for position players.

I don't think he was drafted by us

 

[nathan]

I don't think he was drafted by us

Travis Lee was drafted by the Twins.

 

[FinleyLover]

Didn't he get some kind of ridiculously large signing bonus or something? I remember something about him getting a bundle up front.