Hot Stove: Phillies Considered Favorites for Upton
While Upton is the center of the Braves attention, he may be in the center of the Phillies' field next year. Photo: AP
Slow news day today as we still wait for the dominoes to fall in the center field market, however, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reported today that while B.J. Upton is the Braves top target, the Phillies are considered to be the favorite for the right handed center fielder.
The news that Atlanta is interested in Upton is not new and was reported here last week at Phillies Nation, however the fact that Upton is the club’s top center field target is. Carroll Rodgers of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported this news today with the tidbit that the Braves do not believe themselves to be contenders for Josh Hamilton but that it is too early to rule anything out.
Analysis: So far, we have heard that the Phillies’ top target is Michael Bourn, the Braves like Upton, the Giants are widely-favored to bring back Angel Pagan, and that Shane Victorino and the Reds may be a match. All it would take is one move to throw this carousel for a loop – for instance Hamilton getting signed by any of them. Hamilton seems to be the most in play for Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, with the Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Seattle biding their time to see if they could get a discount.
