Detroit Tigers: Breaking down the Justin Upton trade

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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 05: Justin Upton #8 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Nicholas Castellanos #9 after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 5, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers outfielder Justin Upton is no longer with the team as he’s been dealt to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Here’s a breakdown of the trade.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen one of the team’s best performers depart in a trade.

Outfielder Justin Upton is headed to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in an August trade.

The Tigers announced the move in a tweet on the team’s official Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon.

“The #Tigers today have acquired RHP Grayson Long and a PTBNL or cash considerations from LAA in exchange for OF Justin Upton.”

For a player to be eligible for a team’s postseason roster, he must be with the organization prior to the start of September. This is likely why the trade is happening now.

For the Angels, the ability to add Upton now ensures that he’ll be eligible for the team’s postseason roster should the Halos qualify for the playoffs.

Entering play Thursday, Anaheim is one game back of the Minnesota Twins for the second American League Wild Card place.

Upton has played in 278 games in his Detroit Tigers career, mashing 65 doubles and 59 home runs. The outfielder also added 181 RBI, 162 runs scored and a .833 OPS.

He’s been on a tear this season for Detroit, with a 138 wRC+, a .264 ISO and 28 home runs in 125 games.

The veteran has also added 94 RBI, 81 runs scored and a .379 wOBA. His 2017 OPS currently sits at .904.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 18: Justin Upton #8 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates his solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers with Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 18, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The Dodgers defeated the Tigers 8-5. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

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Right off the bat (pun!), the Tigers add a quality pitching prospect in Grayson Long.

After a trade deadline that saw the team deal away outfielder J.D. Martinez, relief pitcher Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila for a haul of infielders, the team nabs another pitching prospect in Long.

Detroit’s farm system isn’t short on top-level pitching prospects with Matt Manning, Alex Faedo, Kyle Funkhouser, Beau Burrows and Gregory Soto all showing promising upside.

However of the quintet, only Burrows has reached Double-A, with Faedo yet to make his professional debut.

Long gives the Tigers a pitching prospect who is closer to contributing in the Majors.

What’s more, he’s found plenty of success since making the move to Double-A with Anaheim’s Double-A Affiliate in Mobile.

A third-round pick in 2015, the 23-year-old has pitched to a 2.69 ERA, a 1.167 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine innings.

He’s thrown 133.2 frames this season.

The Athletic Detroit’s Emily Waldon provided a scouting report on Long in a tweet on Wednesday. Waldon tweeted:

“Grayson Long reportedly a 3-pitch guy (FB, SL, Change). FB sits low-90’s w/ ability to tap 95 MPH. SL/CH average to slightly above.”

Outside of 25-year-old Toledo hurlers Artie Lewicki and Myles Jaye, the Tigers don’t really have any reinforcements coming via starting pitching prospects in the near future.

Beau Burrows is currently with Double-A Erie, but has made just 14 starts for the SeaWolves at the level.

He’s been up and down so far, and may require further seasoning in Erie before making the move to Toledo and or the Majors.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 01: Shane Greene #61 and Justin Upton #8 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 1, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Money

Reportedly, the Detroit Tigers are saving some significant cash in the deal.

According to Spotrac, the former first-overall pick is making $22.125 million this season. Most of the money still owed to Upton this year may be coming off the books.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted the following about the reported deal:

“The #Angels are picking up majority of Upton’s $22.5 million salary this year, and remaining $88.5 M after this season. He does have opt-out.”

It’s also worth noting that MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweeted the following about the Upton deal on Wednesday afternoon:

Source: Justin Upton determined he would likely opt-out after 2017 due to #Tigers rebuild; once he told club, trade talks picked up. @MLB.”

Update:

FanRag Sports‘ Jon Heyman tweeted about the deal as well, adding some information on the money changing hands.

Heyman tweeted:

“sources: tigers sending under $1M to angels in upton deal, which goes toward ’17. angels r responsible for next 4 yrs if he doesn’t opt out.”

Purely from a financial standpoint, this is significant for the Tigers.

The team has shed some serious cash already after moving Martinez, Wilson and Avila. However, with Upton’s deal off the books, Detroit is in an excellent place moving forward.

It allows the team some much-need financial flexibility.

Some of the recently-freed up money could potentially be spent in the offseason on a short-term, reasonable deal for a veteran outfielder.

Said outfielder could provide cover until Christin Stewart and Mike Gerber are ready to play full time.

Additionally, the team could move the veteran for more prospects once Stewart and Gerber are in the Majors.

Some potential free agents who could fit the bill include old friends Rajai Davis, Curtis Granderson, Austin Jackson and Cameron Maybin.

Next: Even after Upton trade, Tigers still need to add starting pitching in the offseason

Other conceivable fits include Jarrod Dyson, Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith, Jon Jay and Melky Cabrera.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Justin Upton is no longer with the team as he’s been dealt to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Here’s a breakdown of the trade.

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