MLB.com’s Bill Ladson reported Sunday that the Nationals still are interested in trading for Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, according to a baseball source.

Washington has been looking for a new center fielder for some time but never showed much interest in acquiring some of the other available center fielders, including the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp.

Upton, however, is a childhood friend of injured third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and a native of nearby Norfolk, Va.

Although Upton is batting just .228 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, the source said that Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he thought Upton would turn his career around with a new team.

Entering Monday’s game against the Giants, Washington current center fielders Rick Ankiel and Roger Bernadina are batting a combined .223 with two home runs and 16 RBIs.

Leave a Reply