ESPN analyst: D-backs should consider moving Upton
Aug 30, 2012, 7:23 PM | Updated: 9:48 pm
During the MLB July 31 trade deadline, there were rumors that the Texas Rangers were going to make a push to acquire Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton. Those rumors were quickly shot down.
But according to ESPN MLB analyst Tim Kurkjian, the Diamondbacks should take a serious look at trading the young outfielder for Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus.
“It certainly makes sense with the guys involved,” Kurkjian told Arizona Sports 620 Burns and Gambo. “If I’m the Diamondbacks I would look at that very seriously because I’m going to get a really young athletic shortstop who’s had a lot of success in the big leagues and hasn’t really had the down season like Upton is having where people are starting to wonder about him.”
The Rangers are expected to call up top prospect Jurickson Profar, who can play shortstop or second base, which makes Andrus expendable.
A former No.1 overall pick, Upton already has a pair of All-Star appearance and was expected to contend for the NL MVP this season, but has struggled to match last year’s production.
“You have got to careful when you’re do something like this because you may be trading Justin Upton just about the time he’s really going to explode and then maybe you say to yourself this is the best he’s going to be,” said Kurkjian.
