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| Upton's name continues to swirl in the rumor mill. (US Presswire) |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the winter meetings continue here in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, one name that won't be shaken from the trade rumor mill is Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton.
The latest news, via CBSSports.com senior writer Jon Heyman, is that the D-Backs continue to focus on getting a shortstop in return. They like Andrelton Simmons of the Braves, both Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar of the Rangers and Asdrubal Cabrera of the Indians. Heyman has also learned that the D-Backs do not want Ryan Franklin from the Mariners system as was mentioned as a possibility Monday night.
Of those names above, the Braves haven't strayed in their stance that Simmons isn't going anywhere, just as the Rangers haven't strayed in wanting to hold both Andrus and Profar. Thus, the lingering name is Cabrera. And we know the Indians are shopping him.
Also worth noting is that the D-Backs are also shopping Jason Kubel as they search for a shortstop, though Upton is obviously a far more attractive trading chip.
Upton, 25, hit .280/.355/.430 with 17 homers, 67 RBI 107 runs and 18 stolen bases last season, but it was a down year. In 2011, he finished fourth in NL MVP voting when he hit .289/.369/.529 with 31 homers, 88 RBI, 105 runs, 39 doubles, five triples and 21 stolen bases, helping to lead the D-backs to the NL West title.
Upton's six-year, $50-million deal expires after the 2015 season.
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