ATLANTA —
Free-agent outfielder B.J. Upton and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a five-year contract, a person familiar with the deal said Wednesday night.
The deal is expected to be announced Thursday once Upton passes his physical. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
Several media outlets reported the deal is worth $75.25 million, which would be the largest free-agent contract in team history.
Upton, 28, hit .246 with 28 homers, 78 RBIs and 31 stolen bases for Tampa Bay last season. He will replace free agent Michael Bourn as the Braves' center fielder and provide a needed right-handed power bat for the lineup.
Upton made his debut with Tampa Bay in 2004. His first full season was 2007, when he hit a career-best .300 with 24 homers and 22 stolen bases.
The speedy outfielder's home run totals have increased in each of the last three seasons, but he has hit below .250 with more than 150 strikeouts in four straight years.
Bourn was the Braves' leadoff hitter, but Upton is not expected to fill that role. The Braves might shop for a left fielder to hit leadoff, with Martin Prado expected to move from the outfield to third base following Chipper Jones' retirement.
Young shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who hit .289 with a .335 on-base percentage as a rookie, could be an option to bat leadoff. Prado was the normal No. 2 hitter.
The deal with Upton comes only five days before the start of baseball's winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn.
Upton is an expensive addition, but the big move is not a surprise.
General manager Frank Wren said after the season he would have funds available to make a notable offseason acquisition. Jones had a $14 million base salary last season and Bourn's was $6,845,000.
Wren said he entered the offseason with "a pretty narrow focus" because he only had to replace Bourn and Jones.
"Beyond that, our club is pretty solid," Wren said after the Braves' wild-card playoff loss to St. Louis.
Upton adds to what Wren said is a "dynamic young core" of players. He will join first baseman Freddie Freeman, right fielder Jason Heyward, catcher Brian McCann and second baseman Dan Uggla as power hitters.
McCann's status for the start of the season is uncertain. He had surgery on his right shoulder in October. The rehabilitation could carry into the first month of the season.
Gerald Laird signed a two-year, $3 million deal with Atlanta earlier this month to serve as McCann's backup. Laird, who hit .282 with AL champion Detroit, could open the season as the starter if McCann is not ready.
Upton's agent, Larry Reynolds, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Top Sports
Related Photos
-
In this July 6, 2012, file photo, Tampa Bay Rays' B.J. Upton hits an RBI-single off Cleveland Indians' Nick Hagadone in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland. A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press Wednesday, Nov. 28, the Atlanta Braves have reached an agreement on a five-year deal with Upton. Tony Dejak
Discussion
AP source: B.J. Upton, Braves agree to 5-year deal
- Top Sports
-
-
PREP FOOTBALL: Local business calls audible on $10,000 prize, donates entire amount back to West Point Quarterback Club
The West Point Quarterback Club was just trying to make a little extra money during a draw-down fundraiser this past December.
-
PGA TOUR: Woods, Garcia unlikely to make-up any time soon
Tiger Woods spoke for some 20 minutes about the state of his game, belly putters, the U.S. Open and the AT&T National. As he was wrapping up, he needed just one word to cover the topic of Sergio Garcia.
-
WALLACE STATE SOFTBALL: Lady Lions use lack of respect, offensive outburst to fuel national championship run
For a team that’s a perennial contender at the NJCAA Division I softball national tournament, Wallace State had a chip on its shoulder this year in Utah, feeling all along it deserved more than the eighth seed.
-
LOCAL GOLF: Tucker overcomes 3-shot deficit, cruises to Cullman Golf Course Men’s Invitational title
Not long since returning home from another year at Troy University, Jake Tucker made sure his summer break began with a bang.
-
WALLACE STATE SOFTBALL: Lions capture second NJCAA Division I national championship
Wallace State softball has won its second national championship.
-
LOCAL GOLF: Lindsey takes 3-shot lead into final day of Cullman Golf Course Spring Invitational
Todd Lindsey went low with a 5-under 67 on Saturday to head into the final day of the Cullman Golf Course Spring Invitational with a three-shot lead over Jake Tucker and Josh Roberson.
-
TALKIN' PREP SOFTBALL: Raider seniors close out prep careers as proven winners
Anyone who believes athletes are only as good as their last game obviously knows nothing about Cara Goodwin, Kayla Tillman and Darcie Wilson.
-
CLASS 3A STATE SOFTBALL TOURNEY: Trio of solo HRs helps Winfield eliminate Raiders
Winfield was only able to muster five hits off Good Hope's Cara Goodwin on Saturday morning — but three of them were big ones.
-
WALLACE STATE SOFTBALL: Six-run fifth inning lifts Lions to 8-6 win over Pima
Wallace State is two wins away from the program’s second National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national softball title.
-
GOLF: Bradley has 3-stroke lead after 2 rounds at Nelson
Keegan Bradley again bogeyed Nos. 1 and 18 in the second round of the Byron Nelson Championship.
Unlike the first round, Bradley didn't set a course record. But he still finished with a three-stroke lead.
Bradley started and ended his round Friday with those bogeys, part of a 1-under 69 that got him to 11-under 129, the lowest 36-hole total at the Nelson since 2001. - More Top Sports Headlines
-
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
