Yankees rumors: New York not pursuing Diamondbacks' Justin Upton

The New York Yankees have been in the market for a right-handed-hitting outfielder for much of the offseason, but they haven’t picked up their pursuit of Arizona Diamondbacks’ Justin Upton since he rejected a trade to the Seattle Mariners, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports:

The Yankees indeed want to add a right-handed hitter but haven’t picked up their pursuit of Upton in the days since he was nearly dealt to Seattle, according to major-league sources.

The Mariners and Diamondbacks had a deal in place last week that would have sent Upton to Seattle in exchange for Taijuan Walker, Nick Franklin, Stephen Pryor and Charlie Furbush. However, Upton used his limited no-trade clause to decline the trade.

Morosi lists Upton as "eminently available," but the Diamondbacks have said they are in no hurry to move him. Still, considering they’ve already shopped him this winter and have several other starting outfielders, including Cody Ross, Jason Kubel and Gerardo Parra, on their roster, the Diamondbacks figure to move Upton before the end of the winter.

The Yankees have Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Ichiro Suzuki as their projected starting outfield. However, Morosi speculates that the club could make room for Upton by trading Granderson; essentially using the prospects gained in one trade to complete the other.

Still, Morosi believes it’s more likely for the Yankees to wind up with a short-term acquisition, such as free agent Scott Hairston, rather than Upton given the team’s payroll restrictions.