Veteran outfielder Justin Upton was designated for assignment by the Angels on Saturday, marking the second consecutive year in which the team has swallowed a massive contract to clear playing time for younger players.
Upton, 34, is set to make $28 million in 2022, the final season of a five-year, $106 million contract extension he signed with the team before 2018. The Angels will have seven days to trade Upton or release him, and the team acquiring or signing him will have to pay only $700,000 of his salary, with the Angels responsible for the rest.
Upton hit the ball hard this spring, batting .333 (5 for 15) with three homers and 11 RBIs in seven games, but he is coming off three injury-marred seasons during which he hit .211 with a .713 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and had 38 homers and 103 RBIs in 194 games.
