Somey has a signed ball from the player in #9.

No shit. Partying with models and Michael Jordan. What a fag.

Justin Upton became the hottest trade topic with teams sensing that the Arizona Diamondbacks will trade their right fielder.

The Texas Rangers have expressed strong interest, according to an executive directly involved with the talks, but they have resisted the Diamondbacks' request for shortstops Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar. The executive spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.

"We've always said that if a team wants to talk about any of our players, including Justin Upton, that we would listen," Diamondbacks team president/CEO Derrick Hall said. "We owe it to our fans to look at all ways to improve our team."

"He will not be an easy guy for us to move," Diamondbacks general manger Kevin Towers said. "I think we've said it's probably unlikely we end up doing something with him, but if somebody is willing to step up and we think it's a deal that's going to make the Diamondbacks better next year and going forward, we'll talk about trading him."

The Boston Red Sox also have shown interest, but according to a person with knowledge of Upton's preferences, the Red Sox are one of four teams on Upton's newly submitted no-trade list.

Upton was on the trading block during at the July 31 trade deadline, but not dealt. When he was approached about the topic in September, he said: "I understand that this is baseball and I'm going to approach my off-season the same way I would. I'm going to go home, play golf, enjoy my family, do whatever I've got to do. If they call me and tell me I got traded, then that's what happens. I'm not going to worry myself about it. Whatever happens, happens."

Upton, 25, and the younger brother of free agent B.J. Upton. He is signed for $9.75 million next season, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015.

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I like Upton. He's young and he's good and he's reasonably priced for 3 more years. He had a down year in 2012, but put up 17.1 FWar in the last 4 years. I'd be trying to deal Olt and young pitching for him though, instead of the two shortstops. My dream is to have Elvis and Profar at SS and 2B, but I don't know how realistic it is to move Kinsler to the OF. Kinsler, Upton, Martin/Gentry would allow Cruz to move to DH and move FACE to the bench.

What's Upton?

What a bunch of bullsh from Loria and Miami. If they actually had any fans they should burn that new stadium down.

Stanton is pissed.

No real names!

Now they have payroll space for ARod.

I don't love Kinsler in the OF, but if it means Profar plays every day, I'm all for it. I like his response better than PADMY's a few years back.
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•Ian Kinsler is willing to change positions if the Rangers ask, the second baseman tells Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Where I play on the field is not my decision. I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team win regardless of where I am on the field or where I’m hitting in the batting order," Kinsler said. A move from second could open room for both Jurickson Profar and Elvis Andrus in the infield, while Kinsler could replace Hamilton in left or play first base.

Rangers arbitrations from MLB trade rumors. I don't disagree with any of it, but I doubt they extend Murphy beyond arbitration.
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The Rangers are next in our 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series. Matt Swartz's salary projections are below.

•First time: Neftali Feliz ($3.1MM)
•Second time: Matt Harrison ($6.1MM)
•Third time: David Murphy ($5.6MM), Geovany Soto ($4.6MM)
The Rangers’ class of arbitration eligible players includes three major contributors and one player likely to be non-tendered.

Soto, the club’s lone non-tender candidate, struggled at the plate in Chicago then hit poorly after joining the Rangers. With a projected salary of $4.6MM, he’s expected to be cut loose by the end of the month. Back in August I looked at Soto’s case in detail, suggesting a non-tender was likely.

Feliz's salary is fairly difficult to project because of his recent role change and injury. The 24-year-old right-hander spent most of his career as a reliever, and MLBTR projects a $3.1MM salary based mostly on his relief work. Feliz, who underwent Tommy John surgery in August, will certainly be tendered a contract even though he’s expected to miss most of next season.

Harrison and Murphy both project to earn salaries in the $6MM range. Perhaps the Rangers will explore a possible extension with Harrison in order prolong his stay in Texas beyond 2014. Murphy could also be an extension candidate following a particularly productive season.

Assuming the Rangers tender contracts to Feliz, Harrison and Murphy, they’ll have committed roughly $14.8MM to three players in 2013.

Kins has great ulna to radius ratio, but he also had an unusually high amount of errors the last year and a half (high for him, at least). Maybe the outfield would suit him better. And batting 8th.

I don't understand the hype over this guy. Looks like the Braves are getting him. Good luck with all of that.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/b-j--upton ... 42751.html

gimme dat bro of his instead

I'll take his bro too, but his bro will cost players & money, not just money.

BJ Upton put up 23.4 fWAR over the last 6 years. That's pretty fucking good. I would say AAV $15 million is about the going rate for that. A lot of that 23.4 is tied up in baserunning and fielding though, which I think fWAR may overrate. If you're still into batting average, he sucks.

And in CF, I really want to see what Leonys Martin can do anyway. If Wash even gives him a chance.

I'm old. So I'm still into batting average.

and hustle and wearing your hat right.

WTH. The Angels are wheeling and dealing again and JD ain't doing nuthin'!

Just like 2 years ago when he waited it out and got Adrian Beltre in January! Come on JD, make some spontaneous moves already!

Also, Hanson is an average pitcher with average stuff. My guess is he'd be the #5 in the Rangers rotation right now. The fact that they only gave up a RP after a very down year for him tells you what Atl thought of him. He was highly thought of 3 years ago, so he may turn it around. My guess is JD has plans to get a #1 or #2 pitcher. Whether it happens or not, I don't know, but the big moves come after the winter meetings.

Hanson had shoulder tendinitis. Anything shoulder-related is bad news for a pitcher. Nothing impressive about this move.

I'm pretty sure the Napoli deal happened in January too. Patience.

The only thing I'm anxious about is Josh getting signed somewhere else so the Rangers don't do anything stupid like offer him a real contract.

A non-story, I think. I posted it anyway.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-l ... 25z;_ylv=3

Rangers re-sign Soto for what sounds like a 1 yr/3 mil deal.

Nap close to a deal with Boston.

That should make cap happy.

JD is screwing up

Depends on what the budget is. If they had a huge budget, sure pay everyone - but they don't. Nap still put up a pretty impressive OBP considering the AVG and Ks. And he hit HRs. I guess they're saving up for something else.

I also wonder if they're regretting not offering him the 1 yr/13 mil tender after how the market has unfolded. If he accepts, it's only 1 yr. If he declines, they get an early pick.

Sounds like Nap got 3/39.

Justin Upton Rumors: Monday
By Luke Adams [December 3 at 10:06am CST]
We'll round up today's rumors on Justin Upton, one of the winter's most intriguing trade candidates, right here, with the latest updates added to the top of the page throughout the day....

•The Diamondbacks are said to be one of the most aggressive teams at the Winter Meetings so far, tweets ESPN.com's Buster Olney, who says rival teams believe Arizona will move Upton.
•The Rangers haven't given up on Upton, though the D-Backs continue to insist Elvis Andrus is included in any deal, says Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Texas would prefer to build a package around players like Mike Olt and/or Derek Holland rather than giving up Andrus or Jurickson Profar, according to Rosenthal.
•Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com tweets that the Rangers and D-Backs are still talking about Upton, but that there's "nothing there" at the moment.

Not giving Nap the qualifying offer looks pretty dumb in hindsight.

Boston going with Napoli as their primary 1B is sketchy. But in contrast, the Rangers as it stands now are rolling with Face/Moreland at 1B/DH.

I guess the media will start penciling in the Red Sox as AL East champs again.

Seriously, I'm not looking forward to Soto hitting .213 in July and batting 7th.

Pyrzinski? Russell Moore?

JOHN BUCK!??

You mean Russell Martin? The guy that just signed with Pitt?