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manchild98
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Free-agent outfielder B.J. Upton has agreed to a five-year deal worth $75.25 million with the Atlanta Braves, pending a physical, a baseball source told ESPN.
Upton, 28, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He batted .246 with 28 home runs, 78 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last season. He's averaged .255, 20 homers, 75 RBIs and 39 steals per season.
Upton turned down a one-year, $13.3 million guaranteed offer from the Rays earlier this month.
The Rays just gave third baseman Evan Longoria a six-year contract extension worth $100 million, but the team was in the bottom third of the league in payroll last season and was not expected to be able to afford Upton.
Upton will become just the third outfielder 28 or younger (as of Opening Day) to receive a contract of at least $75 million, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The others were Manny Ramirez in 2000 from the Boston Red Sox (eight years, $160 million) and Carlos Beltran in 2004 from the New York Mets (seven years, $119 million).
Upton, 28, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He batted .246 with 28 home runs, 78 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last season. He's averaged .255, 20 homers, 75 RBIs and 39 steals per season.
Upton turned down a one-year, $13.3 million guaranteed offer from the Rays earlier this month.
The Rays just gave third baseman Evan Longoria a six-year contract extension worth $100 million, but the team was in the bottom third of the league in payroll last season and was not expected to be able to afford Upton.
Upton will become just the third outfielder 28 or younger (as of Opening Day) to receive a contract of at least $75 million, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The others were Manny Ramirez in 2000 from the Boston Red Sox (eight years, $160 million) and Carlos Beltran in 2004 from the New York Mets (seven years, $119 million).
