By the time Upton gets crazy-expensive we shouldn't be forking over Ichiro's salary any more (maybe). We can afford him. Smoak will just be starting to get expensive and Ackley will be a little ways away. If we've found some power-hitters in the minors by then we can trade Upton.
As for what our package would be for him, there are no links that I've heard of that give that information, just that Pineda would be involved in the offer we make (and yeah, he'd have to be). If we start with Pineda we're in the mix. The D-Backs want Bard + Ellsbury + whatever from Boston. Bard is a great closer-in-waiting, but
We just added Justin Miller as yet another RH relief option, so we might be able to spare a pen arm or two in pursuit of a real offense.
I say Cortes goes, and maybe Lueke too. One of them can stay if the D-Backs prefer a more veteran bullpenner like League or Aardsma be in the mix.
Pineda is the star of the deal as the #1 prospect in the system (certainly the #1 pitching prospect) and a top-10 pitching prospect nationally, and then we need a ML-ready outfielder and a minor league hitting prospect to throw in. Saunders or Gutz are our only outfield options for trade, and Gutierrez is by far the more proven (and more expensive) though the D-Backs are looking for a corner OF more than a CF. Add in Chavez or Poythress or even Halman as potential 30-homer guys and we could have ourselves an Upton.
It's a tantalizing thought.
So's having Pineda backing up Felix, so it's hard to lose out here. We just need a good plan B for the offense if we can't win the Upton bidding, that's all. "I tried" isn't gonna cut it this year, budget restraints or no budget restraints.
~G
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