While Marlins Sink, Braves Make Big Trade
ATLANTA (CBSMiami) – While the Miami Marlins shed salary and gave up on at least the 2013 season, other teams in the National League East are trying to become contenders, namely the Atlanta Braves.
Thursday, the Braves traded for All-Star outfielder Justin Upton and will pair the slugger with his brother B.J. Upton in the Braves outfield. The Braves sent starting pitcher Randall Delgado and other players back to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Justin Upton.
Justin, 25, hit .280 with 17 home runs, 67 RBIs, 107 runs, and 18 stolen bases in 2012. The year before, he finished fourth in NL MVP voting while hitting .289 with 31 homes, 88 RBIs, 105 runs, and 21 stolen bases.
But, Justin Upton fell out of favor in Arizona and was rumored to be on the trading block for a long time. The Braves will pair up the Upton brothers with slugger Jason Heyward to give the team one of the better outfield combinations in the National League.
Heyward hit .269 with 27 home runs and 82 RBIs in 2011 and will benefit from having the Upton's in the lineup to help protect him. The Braves' outfield will not have a player over 28-years-old this season and will have two players under 26 (Heyward and Justin Upton).
According to CBSSports.com, it's expected that Heyward will remain in right field, B.J. Upton will man center field, and Justin Upton will be moved to left field.
