The Carlos Beltran-to-San Francisco deal became official Thursday morning, which means those who lost out on the right fielder might soon turn their attention to the B.J. Upton sweepstakes.
But one of his likelier landing spots, according to Yahoo Sports, may be a bit of a surprise.
The Washington Nationals, currently cellar dwellers in the NL East, have emerged as a frontrunner for Upton's services, who's owed just over $2 million for the remainder of the year.
The center fielder has had an underachieving 2011 season. While he's still displayed his combination of power and speed (15 homers, 23 stolen bases), he's hit just .227 with an underwhelming .395 slugging percentage.
Still, Upton should be a hot commodity in the next few days, particularly since the Rays have seemed willing to part with the enigmatic 26-year-old. And if they do, expect Nationals GM Mike Rizzo — whose coveted Upton for awhile — to be right in the mix of things.
