MLB Trade Rumors: D'Backs Reportedly Deny Justin Upton for Cliff Lee Reports

As we approach the trade deadline, all 30 teams are exploring every possible deal. Reportedly, the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks were kicking the tires on a trade that would appear to help both of them right now and in the future. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Phillies and Diamondbacks have discussed swapping Cliff Lee for Justin Upton. 

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Lee, meanwhile, is clearly available - and one rival executive said early Tuesday that he had received indications that the Phillies and Diamondbacks had discussed a deal involving Lee and Upton.

Those talks, however, are unconfirmed, and it is not known whether Lee can block a trade to the D-backs. His contract with the Phillies allows him to veto trades to 21 teams.

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Bob Nightengale of USA Today, however, reports that the Diamondbacks say there is nothing substantial to these rumors at all. 

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The #Dbacks say that Justin Upton is def staying and no truth to rumors of Cliff Lee or Felix Hernandez

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2012"

As nice as that deal might have sounded on the surface, there are a lot of things that did not make sense for it to happen. 

One, Rosenthal makes a point of saying that the talks "are unconfirmed." This could have just been two general managers who see star players having down years, at least by their standards, and joking on the phone. 

Rosenthal also points out that money is a big difference, as "Lee is owed at least $87.5 million from 2013 to ’15. Upton is owed $38.5 million over the same years."

Another issue, at least to me, is age. Upton is nine years younger than Lee. He doesn't turn 25 until August 25. He has been in the league for six years, and we keep waiting to see the greatness that has been talked about for years, but he is still very young and signed to a reasonable contract. 

I'm sure the Phillies would love to add Upton and free up some money, but this just seemed more like a fantasy trade than one that would have any real legs. 

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