D'backs, Upton sign six-year, $51.25M deal

TUCSON, Arizona – Justin Upton has signed the second-biggest contract in Arizona Diamondbacks history, inking a $51.25 million deal on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old outfielder said he appreciates the responsibility that comes with this big a contract at such a young age.

“I do kind of put that pressure on myself,” he said. “I want to be great, that’s the thing. If you want to be great, then you set your goals higher.”

Upton earned his first All-Star berth last season, when he hit .300 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs.

His statistics are compared favorably with those of some of the game’s greats at the same age. His OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .836 compares with the early numbers of Al Kaline, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez.

“There’s a lot to live up to,” he said, “and I’m ready for that.”

He gets a $1.25 million signing bonus, half on April 15 and the rest on July 15. He receives salaries of $500,000 this year, $4.25 million in 2011, $6.75 million in 2012, $9.75 million in 2013, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015.

“We view him as a core player, one of our key pieces,” general manager Josh Byrnes said, “and as we view the next six years the kind of guy we want to build around.”

The only bigger contract in Diamondbacks’ history was the $52.4 million, four-year deal signed by pitcher Randy Johnson in 1999.                            (AP)

“This is something you dream about. For it to come true, it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Upton said.

Upton has had the pressure of high expectations for years, following the path of his older brother B.J., who was the No. 2 draft pick overall in 2002. Justin was one better, chosen No. 1 by Arizona in the 2005 draft.

He played less than two years in the minors before being called up by the Diamondbacks one in 2007 one month shy of his 20th birthday. (AP)