PHOENIX -- Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton vetoed a trade to the Seattle Mariners, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.
The person asked to remain anonymous because Upton's decision had not been made public. Upton's contract gave him the power to turn down a trade to a short list of cities, Seattle included.
The Diamondbacks have a glut of outfielders and Upton, a former All-Star, is by far the most marketable. He is coming off a subpar season in which he was bothered by a thumb injury.
Upton's rejection of the trade first was reported by FoxSports.com, which said Seattle offered four players in the deal -- relievers Charlie Furbush and Stephen Pryor, infield prospect Nick Franklin, and one of three pitching prospects; James Paxton, Danny Hultzen or Taijuan Walker.
Even though he is just 25 years old, Upton has played five full major league seasons, so his best years could well be ahead of him. Last season he hit .280 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs but did score a career-high 107 runs. In 2011, while helping Arizona to its surprising NL West crown, Upton hit .289, with 31 home runs and 88 RBIs, the latter two categories are career bests. Overall, he's a career .278 hitter with 108 home runs (see full story).
- Associated Press
Nationals sign Ohlendorf
Despite an already deep rotation, the Washington Nationals added more depth by signing Ross Ohlendorf to a minor-league contract, reports Matt Eddy of Baseball America (via HardballTalk).
MLB
Ohlendorf has been injured and ineffective in the past two seasons after productive 2009, 2010 seasons where he threw 285 innings and had a 3.98 ERA.
Ohlendorf made nine starts with the San Diego Padres last season in which he went 4-4 with a 7.77 ERA.
Soria hoping for June return
The Texas Rangers inked Joakim Soria to a two-year, 8-million contract this offseason to be Joe Nathan's setup man.
However, Soria will be unavailable for the start of 2013 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and hopes to return by late May or early June, reports Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com (via HardballTalk).
In 2011 with Kansas City, Soria had 60 relief appearances. He went 5-5 and recorded 28 saves while positing 4.03 ERA.