Justin Upton moves to CF

[Rob]

Per Rotoworld

 

After originally saying they'd develop him as a shortstop, the Diamondbacks have decided to move Justin Upton to center field.

 

"I just think we all put our heads together and felt like it was best to do it right now," GM Josh Byrnes said. "We think this is the best thing for him. This could allow him to advance at a faster pace." Upton had the range to stay at shortstop, but the D'Backs are right that this is likely to get him to the majors faster, even if Chris Young should be entrenched by the time Upton is ready. Before Upton heads to center field, he's expected to miss the first two weeks of the minor league season with a left shoulder injury. Apr. 4 - 12:01 am et

 

This is pretty interesting.

 

Chris Young is the CF of the future, and now Stephen Drew is the man at SS.

 

I don't really see what the master plan is here. Obviously they're going to lose somebody eventually, but I think it'd make more sense to leave Upton at SS in the immediate future as his trade value is higher there. If they end up trading Young later, he'd still have time to adjust to the new position.

[SouthSideRyan]

And my keeper league team takes a hit. Good thing I've got Drew too.

[imb]

weird, id think that when upton was ready, they could move he or drew to second

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Drew, Upton, Jackson, Quentin, Young, that's a bunch of young positional talent.

[Guest]

Drew, Upton, Jackson, Quentin, Young, that's a bunch of young positional talent.

Carlos Gonzales is one heck of a player, too.

[Rob]

Drew, Upton, Jackson, Quentin, Young, that's a bunch of young positional talent.

 

Yeah, I wish I were less of a diehard Cubs fan, cause I really feel tempted to jump ship right now... they'll be contending for years even if they never get any pitching...

 

:(

[Guest]

Drew, Upton, Jackson, Quentin, Young, that's a bunch of young positional talent.

 

Yeah, I wish I were less of a diehard Cubs fan, cause I really feel tempted to jump ship right now... they'll be contending for years even if they never get any pitching...

 

:(

A funny thing can happen between having the top rated farm system and dominating a division...

[NorthsideAvenger]

Per Rotoworld

 

After originally saying they'd develop him as a shortstop, the Diamondbacks have decided to move Justin Upton to center field.

 

"I just think we all put our heads together and felt like it was best to do it right now," GM Josh Byrnes said. "We think this is the best thing for him. This could allow him to advance at a faster pace." Upton had the range to stay at shortstop, but the D'Backs are right that this is likely to get him to the majors faster, even if Chris Young should be entrenched by the time Upton is ready. Before Upton heads to center field, he's expected to miss the first two weeks of the minor league season with a left shoulder injury. Apr. 4 - 12:01 am et

 

This is pretty interesting.

 

Chris Young is the CF of the future, and now Stephen Drew is the man at SS.

 

I don't really see what the master plan is here. Obviously they're going to lose somebody eventually, but I think it'd make more sense to leave Upton at SS in the immediate future as his trade value is higher there. If they end up trading Young later, he'd still have time to adjust to the new position.

 

Their "master plan" is to put the best possible team out there for the present and the future. Chris Young is a fantastic young player, but in his prime will nowhere be the player Justin Upton can be. So when Upton is ready...Young will be moved to a team needed a bonfid CF star and net the D'backs a couple of pretty good young arms in return. That's their master plan.

 

Upton at CF, Santos at SS, Drew at 2B, Tracy at 3rd, Jackson at 1st, Quentin at RF, Gonzalez at LF and _____at catcher, could be ONE fAntastic team in a few yrs...

[TruffleShuffle]

Upton at CF, Santos at SS, Drew at 2B, Tracy at 3rd, Jackson at 1st, Quentin at RF, Gonzalez at LF and _____at catcher, could be ONE fAntastic team in a few yrs...

 

That's what everyone said about the Cubs a few years back. Now Patterson flames out, Cruz never achieves what was expected, neither does Choi, Ben Christensen is a bust, Montanez flops, Kelton, Bobby Hill, Brownlie, Nic Jackson, Wellemeyer; Sisco goes to KC, Prior gets hurt every year, so does Guzman, etc. Out of all those top prospects, a grand total of one (Zambrano) has been consistently good every year.

 

Funny how all those guys flopped and one of the guys they traded, Dontrelle Willis, turned out great. Ah, the joy of being a Cubs fan.

[Diffusion]

I love the Diamondbacks. They're going to be so so good if they can just find some pitching. Right now they've got Brandon Webb and Jose Valverde, but the rest, with only a few half-projectable exceptions, is utterly useless. This upcoming offseason is a big year for free agent starting pitching, they need to make the most of it, and if or when they have to trade Chris Young, they need to be getting back some quality arms.

[rawaction]

I love the Diamondbacks. They're going to be so so good if they can just find some pitching. Right now they've got Brandon Webb and Jose Valverde, but the rest, with only a few half-projectable exceptions, is utterly useless. This upcoming offseason is a big year for free agent starting pitching, they need to make the most of it, and if or when they have to trade Chris Young, they need to be getting back some quality arms.

 

Nippert will be decent. And Micah Owings isn't too far back. Cruz is young enough to figure it out. Obviously, they still need a lot of help there, but if they can find takers willing to give up pitching for Gonzalez, Green, Clark, and Counsell....along with Young, they'll be on the right track.

[Guest]

I love the Diamondbacks. They're going to be so so good if they can just find some pitching. Right now they've got Brandon Webb and Jose Valverde, but the rest, with only a few half-projectable exceptions, is utterly useless. This upcoming offseason is a big year for free agent starting pitching, they need to make the most of it, and if or when they have to trade Chris Young, they need to be getting back some quality arms.

 

Nippert will be decent. And Micah Owings isn't too far back. Cruz is young enough to figure it out. Obviously, they still need a lot of help there, but if they can find takers willing to give up pitching for Gonzalez, Green, Clark, and Counsell....along with Young, they'll be on the right track.

Young could have enough power to play an effective corner, too. He'll certainly have the defense. Young, Upton, Quentin would make a very nice defensive OF in that big ballpark. And it would probably be above average once they all develop. Tracy at 3B, Drew at SS, Callaspo at 2B, Jackson at 1B and Montero behind the plate. Won't all happen in a million years, but they have a decent to plus prospect/young MLB'r at every position.

[abuck1220]

santos was traded to toronto, by the way.

[Diffusion]

santos was traded to toronto, by the way.

 

And he's not that good.

[Roast]

Drew, Upton, Jackson, Quentin, Young, that's a bunch of young positional talent.

 

Yeah, I wish I were less of a diehard Cubs fan, cause I really feel tempted to jump ship right now... they'll be contending for years even if they never get any pitching...

 

:(

 

Their managment is more demented then ours. They mest around with BJ Uptons positioning, They messed around with Justins. Not to mention BJ is starting the year in AAA for reasons that dont seem all that important.

 

 

They could be one heck of a team if they put all of that talent together...

[imb]

yeah, all they have to do is actually acquire bj upton i guess

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Drew, Upton, Jackson, Quentin, Young, that's a bunch of young positional talent.

 

Yeah, I wish I were less of a diehard Cubs fan, cause I really feel tempted to jump ship right now... they'll be contending for years even if they never get any pitching...

 

:(

 

Their managment is more demented then ours. They mest around with BJ Uptons positioning, They messed around with Justins. Not to mention BJ is starting the year in AAA for reasons that dont seem all that important.

 

 

They could be one heck of a team if they put all of that talent together...

 

BJ Upton is in the D Rays system

[CaliforniaRaisin]

That certainly was quick. I figured they'd keep him at SS, move Stephen Drew to 2B and keep Chris Young at CF.

[NorthsideAvenger]

santos was traded to toronto, by the way.

 

:oops: D'uh, I forgot about it.

 

And Santos is better then what some think, tho he might not be the player the D'backs thought, he will still be an solid SS player.

[Roast]

BJ Upton is in the D Rays system

 

Crap. I know that. For some reason I thought Justin was in the D-rays also.

 

I'm dumb.

[UBlink]

BJ Upton is in the D Rays system

 

Crap. I know that. For some reason I thought Justin was in the D-rays also.

 

I'm dumb.

 

That's OK - at least you're not the manager or GM.

[ltb]

They mest around with BJ Uptons positioning,

 

umm, isn't he still playing shortstop?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

They mest around with BJ Uptons positioning,

 

umm, isn't he still playing shortstop?

 

I don't know if he ever played anywhere else, at the major league level or otherwise, but there was definitely speculation of him moving to another position.

[ltb]

They mest around with BJ Uptons positioning,

 

umm, isn't he still playing shortstop?

 

I don't know if he ever played anywhere else, at the major league level or otherwise, but there was definitely speculation of him moving to another position.

 

right, but i'm 99% sure he is still at shortstop.

[sporrer17]

I believe he's played a bit of 3b, and I think some DH when he was up with the D-Rays. Maybe even some OF?