AP source: Arizona closing in on deal with Upton

Mar 3, 2010 - 12:58 AM By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer

TUCSON, Ariz.(AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks and young All-Star outfielder Justin Upton are closing in on a six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The deal would be worth just over $50 million, the person said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been finalized.

The 22-year-old Upton made his first All-Star game last season, when he hit .300 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs.

The Diamondbacks made Upton the No. 1 pick overall in the 2005 amateur draft. His older brother B.J. was the second pick overall in 2002.

The deal would mark a significant achievement as the cost-conscious Diamondbacks try to sign the young core of their team for years to come. The team also is in talks with young slugger Mark Reynolds.

Upton made it to the majors a month shy of his 20th birthday and appeared in six playoff games that season.

His OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .836 through two full seasons ranks with those of Mel Ott, Al Kaline, Frank Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. at the same age.

He had a 19-game hitting streak last season and had six RBIs in a game at Florida, including two home runs. He hit .377 against left-handers last year.

A shortstop in high school, Upton was shifted to the outfield. Defensively, he still struggles at time gauging fly balls, including a crucial one in last season's All-Star game, but he has one of the stronger arms in baseball. He had six outfield assists in 2008 and four last year.