It looks like the Arizona Diamondbacks might not be pulling off the big blockbuster trade everyone has been anticipating. According to the Twitter feed of Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Arizona’s general manager Kevin Towers says it is “highly unlikely” the team will deal outfielder Justin Upton.
The team has been making many moves to strengthen the squad that is just one year removed from a division title: Former Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy strengthened the starting-pitching staff. Former Colorado Rockies left-handed reliever Matt Reynolds will fortify the bullpen. And reliever Heath Bell can not possibly be worse than he was with the Miami Marlins last season.
Eric Chavez, Eric Hinske and Wil Nieves help give the Diamondbacks a solid bench. And Tuesday, according to The Sports Exchange (via Yahoo Sports), the Diamondbacks participated in a three-team deal.
The team parted with pitching prospect Trevor Bauer and relievers Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers. They brought in a young shortstop, Didi Gregorius, another lefty reliever, Tony Sipp, and first baseman Lars Anderson.
Towers patched the holes on the team and kept the core of young starters, the deep outfield and catcher Miguel Montero.
And he did not part with 25-year-old potential MVP Justin Upton. Unlike his brother, B. J., Justin has already put up all-star numbers.
The many rumors that circulated this offseason, including a wild one from Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic (h/t Sports Illustrated) that involved the Philadelphia Phillies and Cliff Lee, are being put to bed.
The Diamondbacks will not sell low on Upton, who is coming off a down season. Instead, he is coming back to Arizona on a team that is not going to have many holes going while competing in a very tough National League West.
The Diamondbacks have Justin Upton under contract through the end of the 2015 season. In one of those seasons, Arizona could put it all together and win the second title in franchise history.
It would be sweeter if they could do it with the best homegrown player the Diamondbacks have ever produced.
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