Justin Upton has the Red Sox on his no-trade list, but that may not prohibit Boston from pursuing a trade.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are shopping Upton, and the Red Sox are expected to explore the trade market for the young outfielder according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Fox Sports was the first to report that Upton was on the trading block for the third straight year.
Upton batted .280 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs last season. His OPS was .785 and he also contributed with 18 stolen bases. Upton’s best season came in 2011 when he batted .289 with 31 home runs, 88 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a .898 OPS.
Upton has never fully lived up to the potential that he’s flashed at times, but if he could put all of the pieces together, he could be one of the best players in Major League Baseball. Upton will be just 25 years old heading into next season and is signed through 2015 on a six-year, $50 million deal. The right fielder was the first overall pick in the 2005 draft. His brother, B.J. Upton, has played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays his entire career and is currently a free agent.
