Detroit Tigers Agree To Six-Year Deal With Justin Upton

The Detroit Tigers have solidified their already powerful lineup by agreeing to terms with slugging right-handed outfielder Justin Upton on a six-year deal, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has confirmed.

Upton’s new deal is worth $132.75 million, Nightengale adds. However, Upton can opt-out of the deal after the second year, meaning he could enter the free agent market heading into his age-30 season, per FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo adds that Upton receives a partial no-trade clause in his new contract.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network was first to report that Upton and the Tigers were in talks for a long-term deal with FOX Sports‘ Ken Rosenthal providing the initial report of the contract being for six years.

Upton, 28, will undoubtedly bolster the Tigers’ powerful, right-handed heavy lineup. ESPN’s Buster Olney provided a preview of the Tigers’ potential lineup in 2016.

Possible DET lineup: 2B Kinsler, CF Maybin, 1B Cabrera, DH Martinez, RF J.D. Martinez, LF Upton, 3B Castellanos, C McCann, SS Iglesias.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 19, 2016

Last season, Upton made his third All-Star in his first and only season with the San Diego Padres. Through 150 games, Upton hit.251 with 26 HR and 81 RBI. The Padres acquired Upton from the Atlanta Braves prior to the 2015 campaign. Prior to his one-year stints in Atlanta and San Diego, the younger brother of Melvin Upton spent the first six seasons of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

While Upton has not developed into the generational talent many predicted he would, he’s still been one of the most prolific and productive sluggers in the game.

Since his first full season in 2008, Upton has averaged 23.5 HR and 76 RBI while being a career.271 hitter. As ESPN mentions, Upton leads all active players who are 28 years old or younger in career home runs.

Most Career HR – Players Age-28 or Younger on Opening Day 2016 Justin Upton 190 (reportedly headed to Tigers) Giancarlo Stanton 181

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 19, 2016

Upton has spent his entire nine-year career in the National League, and this will be his first time as a full-time player in the American League. As Jon Morosi of FOX Sports mentions, Upton has done well against the AL during interleague play.

Justin Upton career numbers vs. AL pitching:.780 OPS, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 54 BB, 130 SO, 134 G, 560 PA. #Tigers @FOXSports

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 19, 2016

Not a premier defender, Upton is still considered a solid defender in left field. In 2015, Upton recorded a 2.8 UZR/150 and +8 Defensive Runs Saved, per FanGraphs.

After signing pitcher Jordan Zimmerman earlier this offseason to a lucrative offer, the Tigers were thought to be done with all of their major spendings. While loads of rumors connected the team to former Tiger Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers’ GM Al Avila told Michigan Live that he’s out of the Cespedes, Upton market.

Anthony Gose was penciled in as the team’s starting left fielder with Cameron Maybin in center field and J.D. Martinez in right field. Avila said that the team was content with that group to start the season.

“I’d say right now, if the season were to start tomorrow, we’d be fine with (the outfield). But we’ll try to tweak it as we can, if we can.”

However, the Tigers have shown a penchant for making blockbuster moves late in the offseason, most recently signing first baseman Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million deal prior to the 2012 season, per CBS Sports. That proves to be the case once again as the team now boasts, arguably, the most potent lineup in the game.

[Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images]