Arizona outfielder Justin Upton invoked his limited no trade clause to veto an agreed -upon trade to the Seattle Mariners. Upton’s contract allows him to veto a trade to four teams, one of which is the Mariners. Toronto, Boston and the Chicago Cubs are the other three.Upton has seemingly been the subject of trade rumors since the middle of the summer.
Upton is a two-time All-Star and finished fourth in National League balloting in 2011. Upton batted .280 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 2012. Arizona had been looking to make a trade from a surplus of outfielders after signing free-agent Cody Ross to a three-year $26 million deal. Arizona has Jason Kubel, Gerardo Parra and prospects Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock on the roster.
Most considered Upton or Kubel to be moved in a trade. Upton has three years and $28.5 million remaining on a six-year deal he signed in 2010.
The Diamondbacks are now more likely than ever to trade Upton. The Texas Rangers Atlanta Braves are still interested, and the Diamondbacks are known to have talked to the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and San Diego Padres this off-season.
Sources indicate Upton would prefer a trade to Atlanta. Upton’s brother B.J. signed a free-agent deal with the Braves last month.
Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik has made deals this off-season to address the team’s offense signing free agent Jason Bay and Raul Ibanez and acquiring Kendrys Morales in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels.
Earlier today we reported on the possibility of trading from a surplus of infielders, primarily first baseman.
