Justin Upton agrees to six-year deal with Tigers
The Tigers have agreed to sign free-agent outfielder Justin Upton to a six-year contract, the team announced Wednesday. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that the deal is worth about $132.75 million and allows Upton to opt out after the second year.
Upton, 28, spent last season with the Padres after playing two years with the Braves and six with the Diamondbacks. He earned his third All-Star appearance in 2015, batting .251 with 26 home runs and 81 RBIs. He also stole 19 bases, his most since 2011.
Upton played leftfield exclusively last season but has primarily played rightfield in his nine-year career.
• CORCORAN: What’s Justin Upton really worth?
The Tigers return two of their starting outfielders from last season—Anthony Gose and J.D. Martinez. They also acquired Cameron Maybin in a trade in November.
Yoenis Cespedes was Detroit’s leftfielder last season before he was traded to the Mets at the deadline. The Tigers had been rumored to be interested in bringing Cespedes back but he remains a free agent.
- Dan Gartland
