B.J. Upton survived the trade deadline in a Rays’ uniform, but there’s still a chance he could have a new home before the end of the season.
According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, Upton was claimed off revocable waivers by an unknown team.
Topkin suspects the mystery team could be the Nationals, who have expressed interest in the past, though Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wrote earlier this week that “there’s healthy debate within the Nationals about the merits of making Upton their answer in center field.”
The Rays have until Monday to work out a trade with the claiming team, but Topkin believes a deal is unlikely at this time.
Upton, 27, is batting .223/.303/.387 with 17 homers, 58 RBI, 26 stolen bases and a .691 OPS over 499 plate appearances this season. He is making $4.825 million in 2011 and is arbitration-eligible for the final time this winter.
