Philadelphia is rocking the sports world. Earlier the city shocked the NFL, and this evening they broke the bank for Houston OF Hunter Pence. Not stopping with the aforementioned top prospects, the Phillies will send four players in total and receive cash.
The trade is official. Pence was pulled for the Astro's game against Milwaukee and is giving hugs in the dugout. Pence is set to make $25 mil over the next two season, far less than Upton will pull in arbitration and upping the Rays trade value.
Also to Tampa Bay's advantage, the selling price is going through the roof. The remaining feasible OF's are Denard Span, Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton, of which Bossman is the most reasonable. Suitors include Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Washington and Atlanta (in order of likelihood).
The Nats are currently tied to Span, the Reds to Bourn, and Atlanta is looking desperate. It's reported they offered at least four pitchers to Houston, but this would not be an ideal trade for the Rays. The Bay needs power hitting and of the Braves top prospects, eight are pitchers, two are hitters. One is Freddie Freeman (their Evan Longoria at 1B) and the other a shortstop batting .235 in single-A. The Rays would be trading for Freeman, not the other way around. Not happening.
In the meantime, Upton is still in the lineup as the Rays start a three game series in Seattle.