Aug. 28, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

That dance partner stepped onto the floor this week in the form of the Seattle Mariners, who by many baseball writers accounts, put a package on the table that the D’backs accepted. This prospect-laden package that the Mariners offered was supposed to seal the deal and this entire saga would be over.

Upton blew the deal up though, when he exercised his limited no-trade clause in his contract (Seattle is one of four teams he could nix a trade to) to remain in the Valley of the Sun . While this will continue the Upton speculation for the time being, this could not have been good for the relationship between Upton and management. If anyone was holding out hope that these sides would patch up their differences and figure out a way to peacefully co-exist, that seems very, very unlikely.

When it comes to the D’backs outfield conundrum, GM Kevin Towers has not managed this entire situation well from my point of view. He was in a very difficult situation when we had four outfielders and teams knew we would have to potentially get rid of one. When he signed Cody Ross, he seemed to be giving away any potential leverage he had left in making a quality deal. If he thought that he was getting low-ball type offers when he had four outfielders, imagine the offers he is getting with five outfielders.

Feb 24, 2012; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks executive vice president and general manager Kevin Towers (right) and manager Kirk Gibson during spring training at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Which makes the Seattle offer a minor miracle by all accounts. According to experts, Seattle was actually offering too much for Upton.  The deal included top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker, offensively-gifted shortstop prospect Nick Franklin and two more prospects, believed to be young major league pitchers Stephen Pryor, a right-hander, and Charlie Furbush, a lefthander. According to CBS Sports, the package was notable in that several competing executives expressed surprise at how much Towers got for Upton. Walker is considered one of baseball’s very best pitching prospects and Franklin is an exceptional hitter by many scouts in the minor leagues. But, when asking around one National League executive called that package “a major overpay” and an AL exec summarized it as “steep.”

Towers finally pulled the trigger on a deal that he felt would get value for Upton and the mercurial outfielder demolished it. This had to be mindbogglingly frustrating for the aggressive GM and while he will continue to preach patience in any deal that he may strike, he had to be furious that Upton nixed the deal.

I am now definitely convinced that Upton will be the player traded to alleviate the log jam in the outfield and that he will not be in a Diamondbacks uniform in Spring Training.

While I was holding out hope that they could patch up their differences, the organization just needs to end this saga for the team’s sake moving forward. The last thing manager Kirk Gibson needs is a major distraction as he heads into this season off of a disappointing campaign last season. It is extremely unfortunate, that for whatever the reason may be, that Upton and the organization do not seem to be a match anymore. The sky is the limit for the outfielder and maybe a change of scenery is what is needed for him to realize his full potential. But, it is extremely disheartening that this will not happen in Arizona.

My only caveat to the realization that Upton will most likely be gone is that Towers needs to continue to hold out for a good deal. He needs to keep grinding away and hope that he can strike a deal soon with the likes of Texas, Atlanta or Baltimore. Unfortunately for all involved, it needs to be done and the marriage between Upton and the D’backs needs to be dissolved for all to prosper in the future.

Sept. 16, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton (10) takes off his helmet in the fourth inning against San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

The two-time N.L. All-Star is coming off of a disappointing season, hitting .280 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI’s. This has made him a hot commodity this off-season as many teams think that they can get the 25-year-old, five-tool player for a discount because of Upton’s average year and Arizona’s crowded outfield situation.

Seattle G.M. Jack Zduriencik continues to seek offense this off-season as he has already acquired Kendrys Morales from the Angels and free agents Jason Bay and Raul Ibanez. According to these reports, the Mariners offered a “substantial package” for Upton, although details were not disclosed.

Other teams have been hot on Upton’s trail. Texas, Atlanta, Baltimore and San Diego have all been linked to the D’backs outfielder recently. Upton can block a trade to four teams with a no-trade clause in his contract: Seattle, Toronto, Boston and the Chicago Cubs.

Aug. 29, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton bats in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With a surplus of outfielders, many pundits have claimed that the Arizona Diamondbacks could be involved in a trade before the 2012-13 season begins. While all the speculation recently has focused on Jason Kubel, it may be two-time All-Star Justin Upton who is dealt according to multiple media reports today.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports today that the Padres, Rangers and Braves seem to be the strongest suitors for the 25-year-old right fielder.  San Diego’s Chase Headley was mentioned as a possible player that could be headed in the D’backs direction in a deal involving Upton. Headley finished 5th in the National League MVP voting last season when he hit .286 with 31 HR’s and a league leading 115 RBI’s.

Texas is seeking to replace Josh Hamilton and other offensive production and are said to be trying to build a deal behind third base prospect Mike Olt, while Arizona would prefer the discussion would start with shortstop Elvis Andrus or prospect Jurickson Profar.

Atlanta recently signed Upton’s brother B.J, which could be a draw for the five-tool outfielder. Atlanta has pitching depth in their system that could be attractive to Arizona like RHP Julio Teheran, RHP Lucas Sims, LHP Sean Gilmartin and RHP J.R. Graham.

Earlier this week, Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted out comments that the Diamondbacks have changed what they are asking for in the case of the mercurial outfielder and that the Seattle Mariners are rumored as a possible destination. Upton would have to agree to a trade with Seattle for it to be concluded. CBSSports.com Jon Heyman says the Braves, Yankees, Rays, Mets, Phillies and Rangers all still have an interest in acquiring the former MVP candidate.

These rumors have been constant about Upton this off-season, but have died down in recent weeks after he was not moved during the MLB Winter Meetings. Speculation had shifted to Kubel being the odd man out in the D’backs outfield until Olney’s tweet today got the rumor factory abuzz with Upton talk. According to some pundits, like Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the D’backs are not expected to get much back for Kubel and therefore have returned back to Upton as they listen to suitors.

According to Olney, some officials throughout the league are now convinced that Upton will be the player that is moved to alleviate the crowded outfield situation in Arizona.

Stay tuned to VenomStrikes.com throughout the off-season for full coverage of all the trade rumors involving the Arizona Diamondbacks.