The Hot Stove is heating up just days before the winter meetings,BJ Upton has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves, pending a physical says Ken Rosenthal via twitter. Bob Nightengale of USA Today, also via twitter, is reporting the deal is worth $70-75 over five years. Jon Heyman is saying that the exact value is 5 years and $75.25 million however.
Under the new CBA, since Upton declined the Rays qualifying offer, his former club is now eligible for a top draft pick in 2013.The Braves will surrender their first round draft pick to sign Upton, but the Rays will not necessarily get that exact pick.
Upton batted .246/.298/.454 with 28 home runs over 573 at-bats in 2012 for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Braves have been seeking a solid right-handed power bat for some time, and now it appears they will have one in BJ Upton. The Phillies were originally said to be pursuing the 28-year old centerfielder, however it seems as if Atlanta won the bidding war.
