Justin Upton is having a family reunion in Atlanta.
Arizona traded its star right fielder to the Braves on Thursday in a seven-player deal that sent former All-Star infielder Martin Prado to the Diamondbacks.
For the first time since he was a high school freshman, Upton, 25, will have older brother B.J. Upton as a teammate.
B.J. Upton, 28, signed a five-year, $75.25 million contract with Atlanta in November.
The brothers combine with Jason Heyward, who won a Gold Glove in 2012, in an outfield potentially packed with power and speed.
“If we push ourselves to the next level, I feel with the extra push from each other there’s no question we can be the best outfield in baseball,” Justin Upton said in a telephone interview. “I’m not going to give us that label until we prove it.”
The Braves, who also get third baseman Chris Johnson, are giving up one of their top pitching prospects, Randall Delgado, and three minor leaguers in the deal.
They are right-hander Zeke Spruill, shortstop Nick Ahmed and first baseman Brandon Drury.
Prado, projected to play third base for the Diamondbacks, can become a free agent after this season, but Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said he already was working with Prado’s agent on a long-term deal.
The younger Upton, who has three years and $38.5 million remaining on his contract, had been the subject of trade speculation throughout the offseason and vetoed a proposed trade to the Seattle Mariners.
GOODBYE, STAN THE MAN
Thousands of people braved bitter cold in St. Louis to wait outside Cathedral Basilica for a chance to pay their final respects to Stan Musial, who died Saturday.
In an open casket for the six-hour public visitation, Musial was clad in the red jacket he and other Cardinals Hall of Famers wore for special occasions, a harmonica in his pocket and a red tie dotted with tiny Cardinals.
Musial, 92, a three-time National League MVP, seven-time batting champion and 24-time All-Star, died Saturday after years of declining health.
Family, close friends and perhaps some of baseball’s biggest names will be back at the cathedral for a funeral on Saturday.
SOSA SPEAKS OUT
Sammy Sosa thinks he and fellow steroids-tainted star Mark McGwire belong in the Hall of Fame.
Asked during an interview on the website Ustream.com if he thinks he or McGwire belong in the Hall, Sosa said: “I think so.”
“I’m not going to come here and say anything that is going to jeopardize my future,” he said. “But, definitely, time will determine everything.”
Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were denied entry to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility amid suspicions their accomplishments were boosted by performance-enhancing drugs.
SHORT HOPS
Left-handed reliever Craig Breslow, who had been eligible for salary arbitration, agreed to a two-year contract with the Red Sox, with a club option for 2015. In 63 combined appearances between Arizona and Boston last season, Breslow, 32, went 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA. He has made 60 or more appearances in each of the past four seasons for a total of 282 – fourth among all major league relievers since 2009. … A person familiar with the deal said the Mets and free-agent right-hander Shaun Marcum have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, pending a physical. Marcum, 31, went 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA for Milwaukee last season in 21 starts. … Free-agent outfielder Nyjer Morgan, 32, has signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Central League. Morgan has a .280 batting average, 130 RBI and 117 stolen bases over six seasons in the major leagues with the Pirates, Nationals and Brewers. … The White Sox said they have acquired right-handed pitcher Zach Stewart off waivers from the Pirates.
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