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MLB Trade Rumors: Pirates Reportedly In On Justin Upton

Jon Paul Morosi reports the Pirates are interested in young Diamondbacks star outfielder Justin Upton.

Major-league sources told FOXSports.com the Pirates have had preliminary trade discussions regarding two power-hitting outfielders, San Diego’s Carlos Quentin and Arizona’s Justin Upton. Talent evaluators from those two clubs have scouted Pittsburgh’s minor-league affiliates in recent days, as the teams prepare preference lists of prospects they want in the potential deals.

If the Pirates were to trade for Upton, it would be a blockbuster of epic proportions. Upton is having a disappointing year, but he's still only 24 (a year younger than Andrew McCutchen), has several good-to-great seasons on his resume, and was once the first overall pick of the draft. he's also signed through 2015. The Diamondbacks will ask for a king's ransom for him. And when they do, the Pirates should strongly consider paying it. I would imagine any deal would start with one of the Bucs' top two pitching prospects, either Gerrit Cole or Jameson Taillon, and probably also include a couple other very good prospects.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Diamondbacks, check out AZ Snake Pit.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.