B.J. Upton Signs Long Term Deal with Atlanta

Free-agent outfielder B.J. Upton has agreed to a multi-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. The deal, pending a physical, is for five years and worth $75 million.

Upton has spent his entire eight-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays, but the Rays weren’t expected to be able to afford to keep Upton, even though they just gave third baseman Even Longoria a $100 million contract extension.

Upton batted .246 with 28 home runs, 78 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last season. His career average is .255, with 20 homers, 75 RBIs and 39 steals per season.