The Atlanta Braves are struggling to find out why their roster isn’t working and a lot of it has to do with the struggles of B.J. Upton. The outfielder isn’t playing to the level that the team paid for and it’s an issue that needs fixing.
More from Atlanta Braves
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return
- Braves Rumors: 3 trade targets Vaughn Grissom can help Atlanta acquire
- Braves Rumors: Cubs trade, Vaughn Grissom targeted, Duvall’s conflict of interest
- Shohei Ohtani Rumors: The best trade package from every NL East team
- MLB Rumors: Potential Braves reunion, Lance Lynn no-trade clause and Orioles deadline intentions
Atlanta tried to trade Upton this summer but found no takers, so talks will reportedly pick back up in the winter. According to Dave O’Brien from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves will attempt to trade Upton this offseason and rid themselves of his bad contract and even worse production.
"The Braves will try to trade Upton this offseason – personally, I think it’s just about a fait accompli that he’s gone before spring training – and that they might do it by including Minor in a package. In other words, they’d tell a team, you can have three years of contractual control of Minor before free agency, but you’re going to have to take B.J. Upton in the deal."
The Cubs seem to be the team that others go to when you have a terrible contract and want to dump someone. They gave gobs of money to Alfonso Soriano and they seem willing to take on Upton now in exchange for the bad contract of Edwin Jackson.
A deal might not get done but the bottom line is the Braves will work hard to move Upton in the offseason and that means he’ll stick it out for the rest of the season in Atlanta.
Be sure to stay glued to FanSided’s MLB Rumors page to stay up to date with the latest action and rumbling from the baseball hot stove this trade season.