B.J. Upton Contract Overview
B.J. Upton signed a 5-year, $75.25 million contract with the Atlanta Braves on December 3, 2015, with $20 million guaranteed for the first year. The deal included a full no-trade clause and a $4 million signing bonus, making it one of the largest free-agent contracts for a center fielder at that time Forbes. The contract covered the 2016 through 2020 seasons, with annual salaries of $12 million, $16 million, $17 million, $17 million, and $13.25 million respectively.
Before the Braves deal, Upton was a Type A free agent after the Tampa Bay Rays declined their 2013 option. He signed a 5-year, $75.25 million contract with the Braves, which was the second-largest free-agent deal in team history at the time. The contract was structured to provide significant upfront guaranteed money while including performance bonuses tied to games played and All-Star selections.
Career Earnings and Contract Performance
B.J. Upton earned approximately $75.25 million from the Braves contract and an additional $16 million from his final season with the San Francisco Giants in 2021. His total career earnings from playing contracts reached roughly $130 million, placing him among the highest-earning center fielders of his generation SEC. The Braves contract was widely viewed as a high-risk, high-reward deal that hinged on his defensive versatility and baserunning ability.
In terms of on-field production, Upton posted a career 120 OPS+ during his Braves tenure, with his best statistical season coming in 2016 when he hit 20 home runs, stole 30 bases, and won a Gold Glove award. The contract was later supplemented by a 1-year, $8 million deal with the Giants in 2021, where he served primarily as a fourth outfielder and pinch runner, contributing to their World Series championship run.
Contract Legacy and Free-Agent Market Context
The B.J. Upton contract is frequently cited as a benchmark for center-field free-agent deals in the mid-2010s, alongside similar agreements for Jason Heyward and Starling Marte. His deal demonstrated the premium teams placed on switch-hitting center fielders with elite defensive range, even as offensive production declined with age ESPN. The contract structure, with its guaranteed money and no-trade protection, set a precedent for how teams valued defensive versatility in outfield contracts.
After the 2021 season, Upton became a free agent again but did not secure a major contract, effectively ending his career as a high-value free agent. His contract history illustrates the rapid depreciation curve for center fielders who rely on defense and baserunning, as teams increasingly prioritize three-true-outcomes hitters in free-agent outfield deals Baseball Reference. The Braves later extended Michael Harris II as their long-term center-field solution, signaling a shift away from the Upton-era model of investing heavily in veteran defensive outfielders.