The Atlanta Braves are believed to be in serious discussion with the Arizona Diamondbacks over the prospect of making a deal to send Justin Upton to Atlanta. Reports from ESPN analyst Buster Olney on Jan. 23, 2013, it looks as though the Braves are trying to unite the Upton brothers after B.J. signed with the club this winter.
Justin hit .280 for the Diamondbacks with 17 home runs (HR) and 67 runs batted in (RBI) last season while his older brother went .246 with 28 HR and 78 RBI. The two additions together would add much needed depth to the Braves outfield for the upcoming season.
The Braves are likely to trade a grouping of prospects while they are believed to be in contention with the Baltimore Orioles whom are also looking to make a play for the 25-year-old right fielder who is believed to be out of favor with Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick after he publicly criticized Upton in a radio interview last season aired on KTAR:
I think Justin is an enigma at this point. I know he had an injury early on and maybe a little bit of a nagging injury. But he's played. He's certainly not the Justin Upton that he has been in the past and that we would expect of him. He's 24 years old [at the time of interview] and it's time for him to be a consistent performer, and right now this year he's not been that.
The Norfolk, VA native will be hoping that where ever he lands it is a clubhouse much more welcoming to a player that has many many years left in his career and has plenty of time to regain all of the top form he has shown in the past before his injuries.
Upton's future is expected to be decided in the next 48 hours and it will likely liven up the movement around the league as teams start to prepare for Spring Training in a couple of months.
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