The Tampa Bay Rays have been seen as a team that could be either a buyer or a seller in the run-up to the 2011 MLB trade deadline. Today's news — that Upton "will" be traded by the Rays before the deadline, in the words of FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal — certainly indicates that the Rays will be sellers of at least one of their most valuable assets.
MLB Trade Rumors: B.J. Upton Available From Rays; Nationals, Rays Interested
Teams with reported interest in Upton include the Nationals and Indians, two teams that could be long-term stops for Upton. Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Mark Bradley has suggested that the Braves might want to pursue Upton to bolster their outfield.
Upton, 26, has been playing for the Rays on a series of one-year contracts since 2007, but his price tag is getting unmanageable for the small-market Tampa Bay franchise: he is making nearly $5 million this year, and will only command more as he enters his prime.
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