Some good background on B.J. Upton, and a guess at his value
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Some good background on B.J. Upton, and a guess at his value
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
With eight games left in the regular season, Phillies fans do not have much to look forward to except the offseason, when Ruben Amaro Jr. and the rest of the front office will attempt to retool for 2013. One of the big needs they will address is center field, where Shane Victorino had started from 2008 until the trade that sent him to the Dodgers in July.
One guy we have highlighted as a potential replacement is B.J. Upton, but as Marc Topkin notes in today's St. Petersburg Times, Upton has some issues.
The important paragraph. . .
But he also has been maddening to watch over the years: Getting picked off, throwing to the wrong base, striking out often and snarling at the umpire, and taking an at-times casual approach that at least makes it look like he is not hustling. (And led to him twice getting benched during the 2008 season.)
Topkin ballparks Upton's value at four-to-seven years at $12-to-$14 million per year. That's a hefty sum for a guy whose tools have far exceeded his offensive production over the last few seasons. I still think a guy like Nick Swisher is the ideal offensive fit for this lineup. Of course, Swisher doesn't play center field, and he is five years older than Upton.
Anyway, thought I'd pass along the story, which provides a tidy retrospective on Upton's career in Tampa Bay.
That's funny: I seem to remember Murphy writing a few weeks ago about Upton being a great fit for the Phillies.— riles1875- @chris garrity, I've been wondering the same thing for weeks. I've wondered why the local writers haven't at least broached the subject. Yeah, he said he wanted to remain a Dodger, but that chance is gone. We also all know that he's generally been a better offensive player than he has shown this season. He really appears to have been affected by the pressure of what likely would be his final big deal. Shane is in a tough spot. He can't really command huge dollars in a long-yerm deal and only so many teams would need his potentially expensive services. Whether he wants to do a 1 year deal to reestablish his value or would sign a multiyear deal at a reasonable rate, why wouldn't the Phillies be interested and why wouldn't he be interested in coming back? Is Upton really that much more productive as to warrant a much larger contract? How many years do you wait for a guy like Upton to fulfill his promise before you realize it was just never there?— Sewellmatt
- Michael Bourn...Upton is way overrated— tralala
- I doubt Victorino would go for a 1 year deal as someone suggested. I would think as a switch hitter he would offer greater balance than another lefty bat (Bourn). In a poll among managers and coaches listed in Baseball America Bourn was chosen best CF and Victorino 2nd best 2 years running. Phills payroll which is highest in NL probably eliminates Upton and more definately eliminates Hamilton as possible Phills. No questioning Hamilton's talent.— Don w
- Actually Don, I believe it's his best route...Suitors for 3 years and up for the money he's accustomed to making will be few and far between...A one year deal allows him to put up numbers he's capable of, and reestablishing his market value...If the Phillies do indeed like Gillies, a one year deal to a quality defensive CF is not far fetched as a stopgap until 2014....One never knows, and when Shane left with that full page ad saying "good bye", it was the first thing I thought of..Wish he would just bat RH though. — bearsfriend
- BJ Upton is known as ME Upton amongst Tampa Bay Rays fans. I wouldn't touch him!— Nihilist
- I agree with Chris Garrity. Both times.— ACBaughman
- NO! Michael Bourne please!— ol duke
- Nick Swisher? Glad you're not the GM.— PhillySubsMac
- need a centerfielder? how about bringing victorino back he may be the best affordable option available...— eben731
- I'd love to see Darrin Ruf in left field and Dominic Brown in right field next season. Upton doesn't do anything for me. I'm not impressed with him at all. I don't know that he's even an upgrade over Mayberry.— SteveS11
- I wouldn't mind seeing the Phils resigning Pierre and platooning him in centerfield with an affordable right-handed bat, if possible. Pierre has decent range and his arm is more suitable for centerfield than a corner outfield position.— riles1875
- Onthebucks has the right field position/platoon setup perfectly and left field SHOULD be a potential platoon with Pierre/Ruf. It would be a big mistake not to resign Pierre. RE: centerfield - the available free agents like Upton and Bourn would cost entirely too much for what their reality would be. Why NOT Victorino? I think he would return with a renewed sense of purpose and be of enormous benefit to the young Domonic Brown and the rookie Ruf. What a batting order it would be!— dwp66
- I've alwsays liked Bourn. I just don't think he's a good fit with the Phillies (They don't need another left handed outfielder). Plus, he'a Boros client so whoever signs him should be prepared to overpay.— maurysline
- Swisher and Bourn are over 30. I hope Rube has learned from his Moyer, Ibanez, Polanco, Contreras, etc and go for someone younger. That guy is Upton. Who knows, they you pick up his brother in a few years.— cxl72
