Kevin Towers: Diamondbacks Will Listen to Offers on Justin Upton

by Josh Alper

Filed under: Diamondbacks, Red Sox, MLB Rumors

It's not surprising to learn that rival general managers are trying to get Justin Upton from the Diamondbacks in a trade. What's surprising is that Kevin Towers is open to trading one of his prized possessions this offseason.

Towers, hired by the Diamondbacks in September, told USA Today that Upton isn't off the table when it comes to trade discussions and reiterated that sentiment later Tuesday in Orlando, where the GM Meetings are taking place. That makes him exactly like every other player on the Arizona roster.

"I'm open to listening on anybody,'' Towers told the USA Today. "We got more hits on Upton and Stephen Drew. They're difficult to move, but sometimes to make your club better, you have to move good players. You never know when a deal might present itself."

Added Towers later: "I think as a general manager you need to listen on everybody. ... My position has always been I'll listen on all (players on the roster). That doesn't mean that I'm looking to completely make over this ballclub. I'll listen to what people have to say."

When you're open to listening to offers on a 23-year-old who has posted an .824 OPS in his first three big-league seasons and is signed through 2015, you can be sure that your phone will be ringing quite often.

 

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