Four-time All-Star Justin Upton released by Angels

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim released outfielder and four-time All-Star Justin Upton on Friday. 

The 34-year-old Upton was designated for assignment last week but went unclaimed. Any team to have claimed Upton would've been on the hook to pay the $28 million owed to him this season. Upton is in the final season of a five-year, $106 million deal signed in 2018. 

Last Season, Upton played in 89 games with the Angels, batting .211 with 17 HR and 41 RBI. 

The Angels acquired Upton in a trade with the Detroit Tigers in 2017. At the time, Upton had already been named an All-Star several times and won three Silver Slugger awards. 

Since batting .257, with 30 HR, and 85 RBI in 2018 for the Angels, Upton's statistics have steadily declined. Over the past three seasons, Upton has averaged 12 HR and 34 RBI with a .209 batting average.

Over five seasons with the Angels, Upton hit .232, with 75 HR and 203 RBI. 

Upton had his most successful season in the majors as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Upton's first six seasons in the majors with the Diamondbacks, where he was an All-Star twice in 2009 and 2011. He also won his first of three Silver Slugger awards with Arizona in 2009. In 731 games with the Diamondbacks, Upton had a .278 batting average, 108 HR, and 363 RBI. 

While Upton was an All-Star and Silver Slugger award winner twice more before joining the Angels, he could never live up to expectations in Anaheim. 

Now, the 15-year veteran is free to sign with any MLB club.