Rosenthal: BJ Upton will be traded

[cjkalt]

Believe him? If so where is the best fit?

I think Washington, Cleveland, San Fran, Seattle, Braves, and Cardinals could all be good fits.

Where do you think he'll go?

[zodious]

I could see the braves landing him over the above teams. He's not a FA signing with a team so he wont go to Washington. Cleveland would be my next choice, but I'm not sure they thought they were going to be where they are now and not want to mess up the future by going for upton. San Fran will Land Beltran so I doubt they'll land Upton. And the Cardinals fans want Jon Jay to get more playing time so I don't see them going for an OF.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Dark Horse emerge... If Upton is dead set on playing CF then don't expect the Pirates to be buyers. Nor would the reds.

My Dark Horse would be the Angels. They need to do something before the Rangers pull away and they've got a STUD rotation need another good bat and they lack in CF.

[Tobywan]

I think it is a very real possibility since I said it back at the end of June in the "Who Will be Traded First" thread, figuring he is the most likely candidate from the Rays to be traded first. Arbitration bound again and a FA the following season.

The Rays have a plethora of OFs ready. Jennings being called up, the talk that it is NOT temporary and that he has been used primarily as a CF in the minors seems to point more and more in that direction.

As for flexibility, it wasn't Upton's decision to make him a center fielder, he got shoved out of the infield in 2008.

[General]

I could definitely see Upton going to Atlanta and playing CF. The question is, how much is he going to cost?

[Foster]

You mean that old OF of the Angels isn't doing well?

Sometime when he plays he looks like he doesn't care about anything, but of an attitude at times too I think.

[Slyder]

Upton would fit in LF with the Reds also.

[Providence A's]

He's backed off his comments:

Rosenthal: Extra Innings - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN

I hate when people — owners, GMs, media members — make definitive statements about trade possibilities. Executives often send mixed messages to downplay expectations or disguise their intentions. Not even the best reporters know exactly what is happening behind the scenes.

I’m usually quite careful about showing restraint in my reporting. But I went too far on Saturday’s pregame show on MLB on Fox, guaranteeing that the Rays will trade center fielder B.J. Upton.

Is it my opinion that the Rays will trade Upton? Yes. But my remark came off sounding as if I knew the Rays’ exact intentions. I don’t. And if the Rays somehow reduce the gap to the Red Sox and Yankees this week, they could decide to keep Upton and go for it.

[love_that_reefer]

I sure hope the Giants don't go after Upton.

[Hammer]

every time i watch a rays game, i say the same thing. bj upton might be the most enigmatic player in the league. once a game hes good for a play that makes you go 'wow, this kid is a star'... and hes good for one play that makes you go 'wow, what is he doing out there'? and i stand by it. i question if he'll ever put it together, if he cant put it together for [arguably] the best manager in the league.

if they trade him, they'll be getting a good deal though. i dont think theyre just gonna give him away.

[Kingdom]

Which is why I'd rather Atlanta not trade a bunch...for him.

[Trendy Bastard]

I'm curious about exactly what type of return the Rays expect for BJ.

[Tobywan]

every time i watch a rays game, i say the same thing. bj upton might be the most enigmatic player in the league. once a game hes good for a play that makes you go 'wow, this kid is a star'... and hes good for one play that makes you go 'wow, what is he doing out there'? and i stand by it. i question if he'll ever put it together, if he cant put it together for [arguably] the best manager in the league.

if they trade him, they'll be getting a good deal though. i dont think theyre just gonna give him away.

Welcome to my world. The problem with Upton is mentality he thinks he's a star but the physical hasn't caught up with the mindset.

[zodious]

I'm curious about exactly what type of return the Rays expect for BJ.

On baseball tonight last night they said the Rays don't expect anything much of value in return. They feel he's going to want way to much money on the offseason and they're bot going to compete with him this year.

[Kingdom]

I'm curious about exactly what type of return the Rays expect for BJ.

40$-50$ range, depending on which corner they shop at.

[Saber]

Yeah, is Bossman Junior supposed to be good or something?