I can?t really explain it all here... way too much history... but Upton's been unproductive, generally, and prone to hitting slumps. At times, he has simply "disappeared", so to speak. The issue with moving him is a sore spot with many of us DBacks fans. But about 2 years ago the management started quietly shopping him around... no significant offers - or at least nothing to make them pull the trigger on the deal. So Justin continued to play right field for the DBacks, and we endured his hitting slumps. Over the past winter, the team management brokered a deal to send Justin to Seattle... but Jupton had a clause that allowed him to veto trades to a few teams... Seattle was on that list, and Upton vetoed the trade. At that point, the die was cast... with management obviously and openly shopping him, and Upton refusing the deal, it was generally understood that Upton wouldn?t be a member of the DBacks for long.
I?d stop short of calling it a "fire sale"... but it was pretty much a screaming deal for Atlanta. AZ got a couple of pitchers... so it wasn?t a total loss... but we?ll have to see how it tuns out in the end.