Upton Signs w/ D-Backs For Record Bonus

The Diamondbacks confirmed the rumors Friday, announcing that they had signed the 2005 draft’s No. 1 overall pick, Virginia prep star Justin Upton.

Upton and the Diamondbacks finalized a deal that includes the largest signing bonus for a player signing with the team that drafted him. The Associated Press reported the bonus at $6.1 million payable over five years, a proviso used for players who have the ability to be a professional in two sports.

Upton's advisor Larry Reynolds on Friday that termed reports would only say the bonus was “in (the $6 million) range . . . It's going to be pretty strong."

The previous record bonus was $5.3 million the White Sox paid Stanford outfielder Joe Borchard, the first pick in the 2000 draft. Matt White signed for a $10.2 million bonus as an amateur free agent in 1996 with the Devil Rays, which remains the all-time bonus record.

Upton was the consensus top player available in the 2005 draft. He was Baseball America's 2005 High School Player of the Year after batting .519-11-32 in 54 at-bats as a senior at Great Bridge High in Chesapeake, Va., homering every 4.9 at-bats.

He was expected to fly Monday to Arizona, where the contract will be finalized after he takes a physical and attends a press conference to make an official announcement.

"We still have a couple of minor deals to make it final, we've agreed in principle to terms, but we're not 100 percent done," Reynolds said Friday. "But we've agreed on numbers and stuff.

"They have a new regime over there and (Diamondbacks general manager) Josh Byrnes came in and, frankly, did a good job."

The Diamondbacks' original offer to Upton following the draft included a more on Upton.