Pedro Gomez of ESPN.com has the most interesting rumor of the winter meetings so far:
Phillies and Diamondbacks are discussing Justin Upton for Cliff Lee. Money coming to AZ would also be involved.
— Pedro Gomez (@pedrogomezESPN) December 4, 2012
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.”