The Atlanta Braves are looking to both retool and rebuild during this year's Hot Stove League, and a Justin Upton trade could be the next step for the franchise in their efforts to make that a reality.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting that the Braves “are very much shopping” the 27-year-old slugger. In addition, it appears they “are requesting a higher return than they received” for Jason Heyward - a trade which landed them young starting pitcher Shelby Miller and prospect Tyrell Jenkins from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Upton is slated to make $14.5 million in 2015 after hitting .270 with 29 home runs and an .833 OPS during the 2014 MLB season. While Upton's bat was a major asset for the Atlanta Braves this past campaign, he continues to be a defensive liability in the outfield per several advanced metrics.
If the Braves can somehow coax a mega-return out of a power-starved contender in a potential Upton deal, it appears they'll be likely to pull the trigger on such a trade.
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