ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs GM not afraid to trade a player like Justin Upton

Jul 12, 2012, 3:42 PM | Updated: 4:55 pm

Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers knows there is an inherent
risk with any
trade, but especially if he deals a talent like Justin
Upton.

After all, any time you give up someone — anyone — the
deal has
potential to backfire on you if he goes on to succeed
somewhere else.

So, while he told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf it
makes sense to
listen to trade ideas from anyone and for anyone, he won’t
be afraid to
pull the trigger on a deal because of what could happen
down the road.

“I think anytime you’re talking about players like Justin
Upton there’s
always that chance that if you end up moving him it could
backfire on
you, but you have to have confidence in yourself, in your
evaluators,”
Towers said. “You have to be realistic on where your voids
are; the
outfield is an area where we have depth.”

Towers was not only talking about Gerardo Parra, who is a
Gold Glove
winner that has been relegated to somewhat of a bench role
this season,
but mentioned minor leaguers A.J. Pollock and Adam Eaton,
both of whom
appear to have promising careers ahead of them.

But if those sound like the words of someone who is
prepared to part
with a 24-year-old two-time All-Star, don’t get the wrong
impression.
Towers is willing to make any deal if he thinks it will
improve the
Diamondbacks, so if a move is made, know he truly believes
it is for the
best.

“I’ve always looked at trades at as long as the players
we’re getting
back make the Diamondbacks a better ballclub, not only now
but going
forward, and the player I end up moving ends up being a
good player for
the other ballclub, those are good deals,” he said. “That
prompts more
deals to happen.

“I think when GMs are out there looking to win every deal,
they don’t
make any deals.”

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