Atlanta Braves Aquire Justin Upton

It has been a blockbuster day in the world of Major League Baseball and for the Atlanta Braves who just got faster and more explosive at the bat!

Sept. 30, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks base runner Justin Upton (10) slides into home in the first in the first inning against Chicago Cubs at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves aquired Justin Upton this morning in a multi-player trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Braves will receive Justin Upton (Outfielder) and Chris Johnson (Third Baseman).

The D-Backs will receive Randall Delgado (Pitcher), Martin Prado (infielder), and three minor league prospects: Nick Ahmed, Brandon Drury, and Zeke Spruill.

The trade is still pending, but only on physicals.

The trade will unite the Upton brothers, BJ who was aquired as a free agent this offseason with Justin. Justin who has been unhappy in Arizona, said that when traded he wanted to play with his brother in the same outfield.

BJ Upton expressed his excitement about the possibilities yesterday on Twitter, no tweets or comments from him today after the deal was confirmed.

With the Upton’s and Jason Heyward, Atlanta now has one of the most explosive offenses and best outfield lineups in the entire Major League’s.

Upton has been unhappy with Arizona and has been looking for a deal to leave, today he got that wish.

Justin will likely move over to left field, with BJ playing in center field, and Heyward remaining in the right field position.

While Prado has been a hot batter for Atlanta in the past, the speed and defense Upton brings will be better for Atlanta offensively and defensively. Prado was also expected to move back into the infield to replace Chipper Jones who retired, but it seems that Chris Johnson will take that role coming in via the trade.

Losing pitching prospects doesn’t necessarily hurt Atlanta either because they have such a huge farm program and are loaded with talented pitchers. It is almost like they traded Delgado out of surplus. The Braves are locked and loaded for Spring Training and appear to be the clear leader of the NL East division as the gun for a World Series in October!