MLB Trade Rumors: Five Teams Interested In B.J. Upton

Rotoworld notes that the Royals and Indians have been reportedly interested, and that "the Giants, Phillies and Braves could also use an outfield upgrade."

The Braves could certainly use a center fielder better than Jordan Schafer and Nate McLouth, and Upton probably qualifies.

The Phillies could use an outfielder, but Shane Victorino's got center field covered and Upton's not well-suited for one of the corner spots; he doesn't hit much, and he'd have to make the defensive adjustment.

Same with the Giants, where Upton wouldn't be a significant upgrade over Andres Torres in center field, and is little better than the guys currently playing the corners.

The Royals? Really? Granted, the Royals might have a long-term hole in center field, with Melky Cabrera signed only through this season. But Lorenzo Cain is only 25 and he's been tearing up the Pacific Coast League this summer. Upton's better, but won't come cheap and is nearly two years older than Cain.

Now the Indians do make some sense, as their outfield lately has featured Ezequiel Carrera in center and Travis Buck or Austin Kearns in right. Upton's not great -- in fact, he's one of the bigger disappointments in recent years, consider how good he was in the minors, at such a young age -- but he's better than any of those guys. And he's still cheap, owed less than $2 million over the rest of this season.