Braves offseason 2012: GM Frank Wren glad to have B.J. Upton

The Atlanta Braves signed center fielder B.J. Upton to the largest contract in franchise history on Nov. 28 and are glad they did considering the fluctuating free agent market, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Braves general manager Frank Wren told O'Brien that some of the free agent contracts have surprised the Braves front office this offseason and they are glad that they signed Upton early in the offseason.

O'Brien thinks Upton's deal doesn't sound "outrageous" compared to the three-year, $39 million contract that Shane Victorino got from the Boston Red Sox and the projected four-year, $60 million deal that free agent Nick Swisher is expected to get.

"It's a good thing we got B.J. done early," Wren told O'Brien.

Wren feels that it would have been a more difficult signing had the team entered the winter meetings without a deal with Upton.

Upton batted .246 with 28 home runs, 78 RBIs and 31 stolen bases for Tampa Bay last season.