Braves Sign BJ Upton 5Yr/75Mil

[Rudi]

Free-agent outfielder B.J. Upton has agreed to a five-year deal worth about $75 million with the Atlanta Braves, pending a physical, a baseball source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick on Wednesday.

Upton has spent his entire eight-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He batted .246 with 28 home runs, 78 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last season. He's averaged .255, 20 homers, 75 RBIs and 39 steals per season.

The Rays just gave third baseman Evan Longoria a six-year contract extension worth $100 million, but the team was in the bottom third of the league in payroll last season and was not expected to be able to afford Upton.

SOURCE: ESPN

[NAHSTE]

Power/Speed/Defense and only 28. I like it better than giving that money to Bourn or trading for Span/Fowler, so yeah.

[Goober]

I expect Upton to be worth the money, but I do have one concern. He is a streaky hitter, and he joins a lineup that is already very streaky. It's going to be another up and down year for the Braves.

[NAHSTE]

Coming this April ...

[Guest]

Power/Speed/Defense and only 28. I like it better than giving that money to Bourn or trading for Span/Fowler, so yeah.

Trading for Span would have been a better use of resources than spending $75 million on Upton, who strikes out way too much and is too streaky at the plate anyway. Plus, Span is a better leadoff hitter than Upton. I'm actually surprised that you like this to be honest.

[NAHSTE]

Trading for Span would have been a better use of resources than spending $75 million on Upton, who strikes out way too much and is too streaky at the plate anyway. Plus, Span is a better leadoff hitter than Upton. I'm actually surprised that you like this to be honest.

Braves still need a LF even after they acquired a CF, so any prospects spent on Span would have just weakened our ability to trade for a LF.

As for Upton, he will bat 5th or 6th and will be looked at as a RH power bat in the middle of the order. I really don't think the Braves are too concerned with the leadoff spot. Prado or Simmons are the in-house candidates and I'd be fine with either. Still also the possibility the LF acquisition can serve in that role though I think we will go all in on trading for Alex Gordon, or settle for Cody Ross in FA.

[Guest]

Braves still need a LF even after they acquired a CF, so any prospects spent on Span would have just weakened our ability to trade for a LF.

As for Upton, he will bat 5th or 6th and will be looked at as a RH power bat in the middle of the order. I really don't think the Braves are too concerned with the leadoff spot. Prado or Simmons are the in-house candidates and I'd be fine with either. Still also the possibility the LF acquisition can serve in that role though I think we will go all in on trading for Alex Gordon, or settle for Cody Ross in FA.

I can buy the prospects argument. The one thing I don't like beyond most else is his defense is starting to slip, and it's only going to get worse. I wouldn't be looking at a long-term LF'er, because Upton might have to shift there in two or three years.

[NAHSTE]

I can buy the prospects argument. The one thing I don't like beyond most else is his defense is starting to slip, and it's only going to get worse. I wouldn't be looking at a long-term LF'er, because Upton might have to shift there in two or three years.

There's still the possibility a trade for Span could happen I guess, you could always just play BJ in LF from the start. Upton in LF, Span in CF and Heyward in RF would be a pretty damn fantastic defensive OF.

[Realist]

I like it

[chicubs2003]

hope its worth 15mil a year..

[Villain]

Braves bought what should be his prime years as long as he stays healthy. It's hard to not like this deal for him or the team.

[NAHSTE]

Braves bought what should be his prime years as long as he stays healthy. It's hard to not like this deal for him or the team.

Yep. Even if you don't love him as a player (I don't, but the skill set is intriguing) its hard to see how it could ever become an albatross contract. It ends in his early 30s and I have yet to see a single national writer say its an overpay. If a win is now worth $5.5 million, he'll only need to produce 13 WAR over the deal to get our money's worth. I'm fine with paying market rate for a 3-4 win CF in his prime years.

[NAHSTE]

[moneyman255]

Player A: (Just turning 27 in Dec.)

452 AB, .260 AVG, .305 OBP, .463 SLG, .329 wOBA, 19 HR, 51 RBI, 37 SB, 8.0 UZR, 3.5 WAR

Player B: (28 years old)

633 AB, .246 AVG, .298 OBP, .454 SLG, .323 wOBA, 28 HR, 78 RBI, 31 SB, -3.2 UZR, 3.3 WAR




Player A= Carlos Gomez
Player B= B.J. Upton

I know Upton has been way more consistent and has a much better OBP usually (except for last season) but still. Gomez is a year younger and put up similar #'s once he got the chance to play everyday.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Player A: (Just turning 27 in Dec.)

452 AB, .260 AVG, .305 OBP, .463 SLG, .329 wOBA, 19 HR, 51 RBI, 37 SB, 8.0 UZR, 3.5 WAR

Player B: (28 years old)

633 AB, .246 AVG, .298 OBP, .454 SLG, .323 wOBA, 28 HR, 78 RBI, 31 SB, -3.2 UZR, 3.3 WAR




Player A= Carlos Gomez
Player B= B.J. Upton

I know Upton has been way more consistent and has a much better OBP usually (except for last season) but still. Gomez is a year younger and put up similar #'s once he got the chance to play everyday.

What is your point?