Mariners Trade Rumors: M’s Most Likely Out Of Justin Upton Talks

In the continued search for an outfield bat, the Seattle Mariners have likely scratched the name Justin Upton off their list.

The Atlanta Braves have reportedly asked that Mariners RHP Taijuan Walker be included in any deal for Upton and the Mariners have been more than reluctant to include him in any deal.

But now, word from Bob Nightengale is that the Braves are including 3B Chris Johnson in any talks involving Justin Upton, packaging them together.

Now, Bob mis-tweeted and meant Chris Johnson. The reason I say that the Mariners are most likely out is that they just signed their third baseman, Mr. Kyle Seager, to a 7-year $100 million contract extension.

Now, unless the Mariners are working out a trade that would send Roenis Elias and Logan Morrison and a bullpen piece for Upton and Johnson with the idea that Johnson could play first, then maybe the M’s are still in it.

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But that seems highly unlikely.

Johnson has been a serviceable right-handed bat in six seasons with the Astros, Diamondbacks and Braves. Johnson’s 6-year average slash line is .283/.319/.419 with 14 HR and 75 RBI.

He is under contract through 2017 for a total of $23.5 million and has a team option for 2018 at $10 million.

Again, this seems like an unlikely scenario but it’s still worth keeping an eye on.

With all signs pointing to the Mariners signing Melky Cabrera, it appears that this new hitch in the Braves plan is geared toward the San Francisco Giants, who need a third baseman and an outfielder after losing Pablo Sandoval and possibly Michael Morse to free agency.

Just another example of “you never know what you’re gonna get” at the Winter Meetings.