Ruben Amaro Jr. shoots down Justin Upton for Cliff Lee rumor

By Aaron GleemanDec 4, 2012, 4:48 PM EDT
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Pedro Gomez of ESPN.com has the most interesting rumor of the winter meetings so far:

Justin Upton being shopped around is well known, but Cliff Lee as the return would seemingly come out of nowhere (although can there really be “out of nowhere” when Ruben Amaro Jr. is involved?). Lee has three years and $87.5 million remaining on his deal, while Upton is owed $38.5 million for the next three seasons.

UPDATE: Not so fast, apparently. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Repuplic spoke to a Diamondbacks source who said the Upton-for-Lee deal “hasn’t been discussed” and is “off base.”

UPDATE #2: Amaro very strongly denied the Gomez report, calling it “absolutely and unequivocally false.”

Anthony DeSclafani crushed a grand slam for his first career home run

Anthony DeSclafani
AP Images
By Ashley VarelaJun 23, 2018, 6:32 PM EDT
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Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani put on a show during Saturday’s matinee against the Cubs. Up 2-1 in the third inning, the hurler hooked a Brian Duensing fastball over the left field fence for his first career home run — and first career grand slam:

Grand slams are impressive no matter the player or situation, but they’re made all the more special in rare circumstances like this one. Not only is DeSclafani the first pitcher to deliver a grand slam in 2018, but he’s the first Reds hurler to do so in nearly 60 years. Per MLB.com’s Brian Scott Rippee, right-hander Bob Purkey was the last to hit a slam for the Reds in 1959, when he took Cubs reliever John Buzhardt deep in the third inning of a 12-3 drubbing.

The 28-year-old righty had a decent outing on the mound as well, holding the Cubs to two runs, four walks, and three strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings before passing the ball to reliever Michael Lorenzen. Entering Saturday, he carried a 2-1 record in three games, with a 4.60 ERA, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.6 SO/9 across 15 2/3 innings — not too shabby for someone who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2016.

The Reds currently lead 8-2 in the bottom of the seventh.