MLB News: Texas Rangers Tried To Trade For Braves’ Justin Upton
Trying to solve their hitting issues, it sounds like the Texas Rangers tried to land a superstar at the trade deadline. Outfielder Nelson Cruz was suspended for the rest of the regular season and without him, their offense sputtered in neutral.
If the season were to end today, the Rangers wouldn’t be in the playoffs and for the second straight year they blew a lead in the AL West. However, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, general manager Jon Daniels tried to pull off a blockbuster at the trade deadline:
The Rangers, trying to solve that power void, tried to pull off a blockbuster deal for Atlanta Braves outfielder Justin Upton before the July 31 trade deadline. The Rangers offered starter Matt Garza, All-Star closer Joe Nathan and outfielder David Murphy, but they were rejected, two high-ranking club officials told USA TODAY Sports.
Upton was traded in the offseason from the Diamondbacks and in his first season with the Braves, he’s helped lead them to an NL East division title.
It’s interesting to see what Garza was offered in the deal since he was traded to the Rangers just weeks before from the Chicago Cubs. On the season, Upton is hitting .260 with 26 home runs and 67 RBIs while Murphy is hitting .220 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs.
If the deal had been done, it definitely would’ve changed the landscape in the NL as the Dodgers are chasing the Braves for the best record in baseball. While Garza hasn’t faced the Dodgers in his career, Nathan was once rumored to be a trade target as the Dodger bullpen was in trouble earlier in the year.
Upton has been a Dodger killer in the past and getting him out of the National League would’ve definitely helped the Dodgers road to the World Series.
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In case you missed it, here’s the Dodgers pool celebration, PLUS Yasiel Puig’s celebration dance off!
http://youtu.be/LknQOqL7uME
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