Report: Tigers shopped Upton during season

After dipping into their pockets to sign Justin Upton to a six-year, $137.25-million contract last offseason, the Detroit Tigers were apparently ready to move on much earlier than expected.

The Tigers reportedly shopped the outfielder during the regular season, only a few months into the expensive deal, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

Detroit may look also to move Upton this winter, due to less-expensive options being available, Olney notes.

In his first season with the Tigers, the 29-year-old suffered extreme bouts of inconsistency. He hit .228/.286/.369 with only eight home runs and 98 strikeouts from April-June, but performed much better down the stretch, improving to .292/.382/.750 with 13 home runs in September.

Detroit's situation is in flux. With MLB's fourth-highest payroll, they spent just over $200 million in 2016, ensuring the organization had to pay the luxury-tax penalty for the first time since 2008.