Kuzul

No player has been mentioned in more trade rumors this offseason than Justin Upton—and with good reason.

The first overall selection in the 2005 draft out of a Virginia high school, Upton received an aggressive assignment to Low-A South Bend for his professional debut. The 18-year-old held his own in the Midwest League, posting a .757 OPS with 41 extra-base hits, 15 stolen bases and 96/52 K/BB in 113 games. Albeit impressive, his inaugural season didn’t suggest that he’d rip through the minor leagues as he did the following year.

Opening the 2007 season at High-A Visalia in the hitter-friendly California League, the 6’2”, 205-pound outfielder absolutely exploded at the plate, batting .341/.433/.540 with 13 extra-base hits and 28/19 K/BB in 32 games.

Upton’s torrid start quickly earned him a promotion to Double-A Mobile where he continued to rake as one of the younger players in the Southern League.

After batting .309/.399/.556 with 34 extra-base hits (13 home runs), 10 stolen bases and an especially impressive 51/37 K/BB in 71 games, the 19-year-old was called up to the major leagues in early August.

As expected, Upton’s bat cooled off as he was challenged by the most advanced pitching he’d ever seen. Overall, he batted .221/.283/.364 over 152 plate appearances, which is still damn impressive for a teenager.

Upton began to close the gap between his present ability and future potential the follow year, as he batted .250/.353/.463 with 15 home runs in 108 games, and, more importantly, demonstrated the ability to make adjustments at the highest level.

It wasn’t until 2009 that his career truly took flight, however, when he posted a 3.8 WAR (Baseball Reference) and batted .300/.366/.532 with 63 extra-base hits (26 home runs) and 20 stolen bases in 138 games. Upton’s breakout campaign also led to his first All-Star selection.

His best season came in 2011 when the right fielder batted .289/.369/.529 with 31 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 159 games. Beyond his selection to a second All-Star Game, Upton’s 5.7 WAR performance resulted in a fourth-place finish in the National League MVP voting.

Signed to a six-year, $50 million contract before the 2010 season, Upton, 25, is owed $38 million over the next three seasons. If he produces as he did in 2011, such a price tag could be a bargain.

Shifting the focus to the minor leagues, I ask you this, loyal Prospect Pipeline readers: Is there a prospect with the potential to be the next Justin Upton?

To identify players with a similar ceiling, I looked at those with loud, but raw, tools and at least average secondary skills. More specifically, I targeted power-speed prospects who have the potential to reach the major leagues at a young age (though not necessarily as a teenager like Upton).

Here’s a look at seven prospects who could be the next Justin Upton.

Begin Slideshow

The Arizona Diamondbacks have had a very busy offseason, starting with the trade that imported Heath Bell from the Miami Marlins to the three-team deal that sent phenom pitcher Trevor Bauer to Cleveland. They continued their activity by extending the contract of reliever J. J. Putz through the end of the 2014 season, according to The Associated Press (via Yahoo Sports.)

The 35-year-old closer had his 2013 option picked up by the team in October and now will pitch in the desert for an additional year. He saved 32 out of 37 chances and posted a 2.82 ERA in 2012. In the second half of 2012, he let up only three earned runs in 26.1 innings, posting a 1.03 ERA, striking out 36 and walking four. He did not let up a single run in July or August of 2012.

The Diamondbacks hope he can turn his fantastic second half into an All-Star 2013. 

Arizona will sport a bullpen with three veterans (Putz, Bell and Brad Ziegler) and several solid young pitchers such as David Hernandez, Josh Collmenter and Tony Sipp. 

If Putz can lock down the ninth innings and the other pitchers can pitch to their roles, especially with Heath Bell removed from the circus in Miami, then Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson should have a lockdown pen in a very competitive National League West.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The struggle between players and management has gone on since the beginning of the sports world. Each side wants to have leverage when the inevitable split occurs. The “no-trade clause” is one of the biggest assets a baseball player can have, and Justin Upton just used his to really affect the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When a contract is signed between team and player, it is supposed to bind them together for the duration of the contract. Unless of course, the player gets traded. The team generally holds that leverage, because they can change a player’s life by exiling them to a rebuilding team or a franchise with no intentions of using the player how they want to be used.

The Seattle Mariners are a rebuilding franchise in a wonderful city. However, they were also one of the four teams on Upton’s “no-trade list.” That means he holds veto power over any trade to that franchise. Why he’d want to avoid Seattle at this point is irrelevant, but he does.

After the Arizona Diamondbacks and Mariners agreed to a trade that would have sent a multitude of young talent to the D’Backs, Upton invoked his no-trade clause and nixed the deal.

This puts Upton in a terrible place. He’s already been the recipient of many criticisms from management and fans in Arizona. While it is his right to veto this trade, it also represents him standing in the way of progress.

Upton is like the lone homeowner who won’t sell so that 10 other homes can be built. He’s stubbornly using his clout (which he earned) to create a situation he feels is better for himself and his family. What he’s going to end up doing is hurting the franchise.

Now that Upton has done this, other franchises know what he’s capable of. Now, he becomes less desirable. Who wants a player that is going to do that? If a franchise had 25 men who all acted this way, they’d never get anything done.

From Upton’s standpoint, he’s just using the terms that the team agreed to at one point. He isn’t against any rules. He shouldn’t make a decision that would be best for the franchise, he needs to make one that is best for him. Yes, he makes more money than he’s worth. However, would anybody give money back in his spot? Of course not.

If things continue to be ugly between the Diamondbacks and Upton, the figurative heat will fall squarely on Upton’s shoulders. The Diamondbacks are trying to better their situation by trading a player that is owed $38.5 million over the next three years.

Upton’s contract is an albatross at this point and he hasn’t come close to living up to it. He’s a good player, but the Diamondbacks would rather spread that money out to those providing more production on and off the field.

No-trade clauses are the worst. Nobody comes out looking good. The Diamondbacks had a great deal on their hands and could have bolstered their farm system. Instead, they’re stuck in this marriage that neither side wants.

Check out my blog and podcast over at HoopsHabit.com! Show your support by becoming my fan here on Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter to be the first to know when my newest articles arrive!

Follow @iambabyd13

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

A new rumor involving the Arizona Diamondbacks trading outfielder Justin Upton seems to surface daily. MLBTradeRumors.com is updating constantly with the latest potential landing spots for the sometimes brilliant and sometimes enigmatic right handed slugger.

Nick Piecoro of USA Today Sports reported that Upton used his no trade clause to block a potential deal to the Seattle Mariners. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, he can also block deals to the improving Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs.

Marc Carig of Newsday.com wrote that the New York Mets are not negotiating a deal. It’s an odd turn for a team that earlier in the winter dealt the popular Cy Young winner R. A. Dickey for prospects only to offer prospects for Upton.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN (via Twitter) the Atlanta Braves are “lying in the weeds” for a deal that would unite Justin with his brother B. J.

But the Diamondbacks should consider a new course of action: Keeping Upton.

The frustration that Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick felt with Upton (and Stephen Drew) became public during a radio interview in June of 2012 (via Matthew Pouliot of NBCSports.com). 

Calling Upton an “enigma” and criticizing his inconsistent play, Kendrick was certainly expressing the frustrations felt by Diamondbacks fans.

But he has also put the team in a position where they would not be getting top value for the first pick of the 2005 Draft. Trading him after a down season would be bad enough. Having an overcrowded outfield as the Diamondbacks currently have puts Arizona at another disadvantage for leverage.

The sense around the league that management does not want him back lowers his value even further. The idea that the Diamondbacks wanted a player out who did not fit in already was felt this year.

Pitching prospect Trevor Bauer clashed with ownership in his cameo. He did not get along with his new teammates, especially with catcher Miguel Montero (via Cleveland.com). He was shipped off to Cleveland and many writers, including Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated, felt that the Diamondbacks undersold Bauer.

They should not make the same mistake with Upton. Instead the team should rely on manager Kirk Gibson to get the most out him. Upton responded to Gibson in 2011 with an MVP contending season and the Diamondbacks won the West.

This year Arizona has a solid pitching staff, few holes in their lineup and ambitions to win the West again.

The 25 year old Justin Upton still has a lot to offer. Make peace with him, Diamondbacks. Both parties will be better off with a happy and productive Justin Upton. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In Kevin Towers’ first season as the general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, he orchestrated a worst-to-first turnaround that brought the team from 65 wins to 94—a 29-win improvement good enough for the NL West crown in 2011.

Last season, the Diamondbacks fell back to 81 wins due in large part to the regression of the team’s star slugger, Justin Upton, as well as third baseman Ryan Roberts and starters Daniel Hudson and Ian Kennedy.

Upton’s on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) dropped by over 100 points from .898 in 2011 to .785 in 2012, and Towers dangled him in trade talks at the deadline. Roberts’ OPS also dropped by 100 points from .768 to .656, and he was eventually replaced at third base before being dealt to the Rays.

Kennedy’s ERA rose by more than a full run from 2.88 to 4.02, and Hudson’s ERA shot up from 3.49 to 7.35 as he battled a shoulder injury before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his elbow.

The Diamondbacks went into the winter with the stated priority of upgrading at shortstop, where Stephen Drew, Willie Bloomquist and others combined to produce a .692 OPS last season.

That priority appeared to be taken care of when Towers dealt from his outfield surplus to acquire Cliff Pennington and infielder Yordy Cabrera from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for center fielder Chris Young.

Towers then flipped Cabrera to the Marlins for reliever Heath Bell, agreeing to take on more than half of the remaining $21 million owed to the reliever over the next two seasons in the process.

This was the first in a series of puzzling offseason moves by Towers. The Diamondbacks, a mid-market team, agreeing to pay that much money for a 35-year-old reliever coming off of a terrible season was a poor use of limited resources.

Towers’ next big move was to send top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer to the Cleveland Indians in a three-team deal that netted the Diamondbacks shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius, reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson.

The Diamondbacks had reportedly soured on Bauer because of issues with his workout routine, inability to adapt and his problems with teammates. However, turning the third pick of the 2011 draft into a shortstop who might not be able to hit much in the big leagues after having already filled that vacancy earlier in the winter with Pennington was another questionable use of resources.

Even after trading Young, the Diamondbacks still had a surplus of outfielders among Upton, Gerardo Parra, Jason Kubel, Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock. Yet Towers added to that surplus by signing 32-year-old outfielder Cody Ross to a three-year, $26 million deal with a fourth year club option.

Though Towers is still actively trying to deal Upton—who recently vetoed a trade—it’s still not clear why the Diamondbacks needed Ross. At 32, his decline phase is fast approaching, and he’s probably best used as a platoon player. He has a .928 career OPS against lefties compared to just .727 versus righties.

The Diamondbacks would have been better off holding onto Young than signing Ross. Young is a better, younger and cheaper version of Ross. They also should have gotten more for Bauer than Gregorius and spare parts, though Towers is apparently higher on the young shortstop than most—going as far as to compare him to Derek Jeter.

It’s also not entirely understandable why Towers has been so eager to move Upton. He’s only 25-years-old and signed to a reasonable contract through 2015. He hasn’t met the lofty expectations that come with being the first overall pick in the draft, but he’s had two outstanding seasons out of the last four, including a fourth-place finish in the NL MVP voting two seasons ago.

The constant trade rumors that have surrounded Upton during Towers’ tenure with the team make it unlikely that the two parties can go forward together much longer. At this point, Towers may have to take the best offer he can get for his star right fielder before spring training and move forward without him.

Not all of Towers’ moves have been so puzzling this winter. Signing third baseman Eric Chavez on a cheap, one-year deal and signing starter Brandon McCarthy to a two-year deal were quite sensible moves that met two of the organization’s needs without breaking the bank.

Yet the sum of his offseason moves have left fans and writers wondering: what exactly is the plan here? In the end, it seems like the general manager with a reputation for being a gunslinger is just shooting from the hip rather than executing a well-thought-out plan.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping they can turn back the clock on veteran outfielder Cody Ross, and why not?

Ross has been a journeyman for the past decade, but he has rarely let his teammates or fans down on or off the field since breaking into the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers in 2003.

Now, the former Boston Red Sox right fielder is headed back to the National League West after agreeing to a three-year contract with the Diamondbacks, according to ESPN baseball analyst Jim Bowden via Twitter:

Cody Ross and Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed on a 3-year $26 million dollar contract that includes a club option with $1m buyout #Source

— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) December 22, 2012

But even before Ross takes his first swing at the plate for Arizona, Diamondbacks fans can breathe a little easier knowing their club has made a smart addition to its outfield, especially with right fielder Justin Upton’s future still up in the air. 

The deal means that the 31-year-old Ross will return to the division where he excelled with the San Francisco Giants late in 2010. Ross played 33 regular season games with the Giants after being claimed off waivers.

In the 2010 postseason, he recorded 15 hits and five home runs in 51 at-bats to help lead the Giants to the 2010 World Series title. He batted .294 in 15 games that postseason. 

Ross hadn’t been to the postseason before, or since. 

Last season, he hit .267 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 476 plate appearances for the Boston Red Sox. He provided quality at-bats to go with solid defense on the struggling American League East team.

Although the numbers aren’t eye-popping by any stretch, Ross, at his worst, is still a quality player to bring off the bench. He’s also an excellent clubhouse presence because of his World Series experience and willingness to accept whatever role his current team wishes to give him.

He can even adapt to new atmospheres. After all, he’s used to short stays and constant relocation. He’s played with six different MLB teams since 2003 and will now suit up for a seventh in 2013. That may not sound like a big deal, but it is when you’re looking for a steady presence. Ross will transition seamlessly, just as he has done in the past. 

There’s a whole lot more good than bad involved with bringing in Cody Ross. The consummate professional, Ross will offer Arizona much more than a presence at the plate or in the outfield. 

You might say Ross peaked in 2009 with the Florida Marlins when he hit .270 with 24 home runs and 90 RBI. Sure, his best baseball is likely behind him, but it’s not required for Arizona to be successful.

Ross isn’t a superstar, and he probably wasn’t the team’s first option, but he won’t disappoint. He’s a great leader, and he’s going to help his team win in whatever way necessary.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed outfielder Cody Ross to a three-year agreement, according to the Twitter feed of New York Daily News writer Mark Feinsand.

League source: Cody Ross has reached agreement with Diamondbacks on a three-year deal.

— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 22, 2012

The one-time San Francisco Giants playoff hero who played last year with the Boston Red Sox gives the Diamondbacks yet another power-hitting threat in their arsenal. But most significantly it allows Arizona the flexibility to make another trade.

Ross made his debut with the 2003 Detroit Tigers. After short stops with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds, he became a productive hitter with the Florida Marlins, notching back to back seasons with more than 20 homers.

In 2010, Ross stunned the Philadelphia Phillies by hitting a pair of home runs off Roy Halladay in Game 1 of the 2010 NLCS. He was named the NLCS MVP when he hit three homers, batted .350 and posted a 1.385 OPS as the Giants stormed into the World Series. He homered in the World Series victory against the Texas Rangers in 2010 as well.

After another 22-home-run season with the Red Sox in 2012, he joins a crowded Arizona outfield that currently features Justin Upton, Jason Kubel, Gerardo Parra, A. J. Pollock and Adam Eaton.

ESPN’s Buster Olney speculates that the Texas Rangers would be interested in Upton or Kubel to help replace the offense lost by the defection of Josh Hamilton. Arizona’s need for a shortstop has been satisfied by acquiring Didi Gregorius from the Cincinnati Reds, so Elvis Andrus might not be as alluring a trade chip anymore.

But the team can always use additional bullpen arms or a chance to replenish a farm system that used some top trade chips to strengthen the 2013 squad.

So general manager Kevin Towers has made a move that helps in the short term and the long term.

The Diamondbacks are going into 2013 with very few holes, making Arizona a very dangerous team. And Cody Ross knows something about playing for a National League West team that exceeds expectations.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After a flurry of trades and moves, the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves pretty well set for the 2012 season. According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, Diamondback managing general partner Ken Kendrick is happy with the offseason performance of general manager Kevin Towers, adding “It’s not over yet.”

The Diamondbacks appear to have a surplus of quality outfielders. Even after sending Chris Young to the Oakland Athletics, the Diamondbacks have Jason Kubel, Justin Upton, Gerardo Parra, A. J. Pollock and Adam Eaton.

With that much talent in the major leagues and some other good outfielders coming up through the system, like Alfredo Marte, it might make sense for the Diamondbacks to make another deal.

Buster Olney of ESPN says the Rangers might see Kubel as a consolation prize for their attempt to acquire Upton.

Arizona should resist the temptation to deal from its strength.

They have maintained their rotation depth with signing Brandon McCarthy and solidified their bullpen with acquiring Matt Reynolds and Tony Sipp. Heath Bell is still talented and will look to show his awful 2012 season was a fluke. Eric Chavez and Eric Hinske strengthen the bench. And young Didi Gregorius should do fine defensively at shortstop.

The trades and free-agent signings by Towers have filled each hole on the team.

But where will each of the five major league outfielders get their playing time? The answer is that the 162-game season tends to answer that question organically.

Injuries and slumps will find a way to cut down on someone’s at-bats. A hot streak will force someone into the lineup while the realities of a long season will cut back on another.

Upton is a potential MVP who should not be dealt for pennies on the dollar. Kubel is a veteran who still supplies pop. 26-year-old Parra can still play each outfield position. Pollock is a good base stealer and defender. The 24-year-old Eaton has excellent gap power and speed.

The Diamondbacks boast one of the deepest outfields, and for a team without the resources of the Los Angeles Dodgers playing in a division with the defending champion San Francisco Giants, that could be their biggest asset.

The team will be able to survive and compete with the top two dogs because of their depth.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired shortstop Didi Gregorious, first baseman Lars Anderson and veteran left-handed reliever Tony Sipp from the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds on Dec. 11, according to a team press release.

Cleveland received right-handed pitchers Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw in the deal and sent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and other players to the Cincinnati Reds.

But who is Gregorious and why should Diamondbacks fans begin to get excited?

Ken Griffey Sr., his manager in 2010, projected Didi’s outlook as a hitter at the next level (via Dayton Daily News):

“Didi’s a very aggressive hitter,” Griffey said. “He makes contact and understands how to use the barrel of the bat. He’s going to have the pop to hit 10-15 home runs.”

Gregorious, 22, is a 6’1″, 185-pound left-handed hitter who excelled down in the minor leagues. He was named to the Arizona Fall League’s Top Prospect Team in November after compiling a .284 average with one home run, three doubles and eight RBI.

He also saw some MLB action with the Cincinnati Reds in 2012. During his limited time in the bigs (eight games in September), Gregorious accumulated a .300 batting average and two RBI.

According to the release, “[Gregorious] entered 2012 rated by Baseball America as Cincinnati’s sixth-best prospect and named the organization’s Best Defensive Infielder and possessing the Best Throwing Arm.”

He is built as a defense-first shortstop but is handy with the bat at times as well. Gregorious hit .265/.324/.393 while moving between Double and Triple-A in the Reds’ farm system in 2012.

Overall, the Diamondbacks should be excited about the youngster’s potential. His solid Triple A performance in 2012 is encouraging and he may be ready for a jump to the majors on a more permanent basis in 2013.

Follow @BigHoagowski

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com