Apparently we're able to meet Arizona's price for Upton but don't want to take on the full contract. How pathetic is that? Fuck this whole $189 bullshit. Fuck Hal and Hank.
Jon Morosi brings up an interesting scenario though:
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While the Yankees have a full complement of starting outfielders – Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Ichiro Suzuki – they could clear a spot for Upton by trading Granderson, who will become a free agent after the 2013 season. (Granderson will earn $13 million this year, compared to $9.75 million for Upton.)
The Mariners, rebuffed by trade targets and big free agents all offseason, might jump at the chance to get Granderson – even if it’s only for one year. Or they could request a window to negotiate a contract extension as a condition of any deal for Granderson, as happened with R.A. Dickey and the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Yankees could ask for a better prospect package – perhaps comparable to the one Seattle was prepared to surrender for Upton – if Granderson agreed to an extension in Seattle. In fact, the Yankees could ask for some of the same Mariners prospects that would have gone to Arizona for Upton. And then the Yankees could repackage that talent – maybe adding another player of their own, if necessary – to bring Upton to the Bronx. (Upton’s no-trade clause reportedly wouldn’t allow him to block a deal to the Yankees.)
Still, trading Granderson and acquiring Upton would be a lateral move for 2013.