Justin Upton

• [FSAZ] Upton trade no certainty, but options aplenty - "If nothing happens and he is still in a Diamondback uniform, he is going to play hard and we’re all going to be fine," Hall said. "He knows it’s part of the game. He is so mature now compared to when he first entered the league. If this had happened back then, maybe he would react differently, but he handles it so well. It’s not an issue."
• [AZ Central] Possible Upton destinations - Texas and Tampa are well known possibilities, but what about Boston, Detroit or even Pittsburgh?
• [USA Today] On the Hunt: Dodgers pursue Torii - "The Rangers, who have All-Star Elvis Andrus at shortstop, tried to acquire Simmons simply to spin him off and trade him to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right fielder Justin Upton, a high-ranking official with the Rangers and Braves confirmed."

Other trade rumors

• [Dbacks.com] Hall reiterates D-backs are not shopping Bauer - "He realizes he has made mistakes and he wants to embrace his teammates and hopes that they forgive him. Just really positive signs and we see a lot of maturity from everything he went through."
• [SB Nation] Hiroyuki Nakajima reportedly draws interest from D-Backs, Athletics - We are "said to be interested in Japanese League shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, who plays for the Seibu Lions... The 30-year-old shortstop hit .311/.382/.451 during the 2012 season, collecting 29 doubles and 13 home runs. Over the last six seasons, Nakajima has hit .310/.381/.474."
• [Dallas News] ]Japanese reliever Kyuji Fujikawa on radar - "Fujikawa, 32, was 2-2 with 24 saves and a 1.32 ERA in 47 2/3 innings this season with Hanshin. Because Fujikawa is eligible for free agency, he would not have to go through the posting process. Arizona, the Los Angeles Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers are also known to have scouted Fujikawa."

Non-trade stuff [Arizona related]

• [dbacks.com] Heath Bell opens D-backs chapter with patented flair - Wearing a white, black and pink argyle sweater vest with a short-sleeved pink buttoned-up shirt underneath, Bell reintroduced himself to Arizona... "I don't know much about him. I've heard little things about him," Ian Kennedy said. "You can hear things, and they can be completely wrong. I'm curious."
• {AZ Central] Phoenix, ASU in talks for ballpark - "A week after a deal to share a new Chicago Cubs stadium in Mesa fell apart, Arizona State University is in negotiations to potentially move its baseball program to Phoenix Municipal Stadium, city officials confirmed Friday."
• [dbacks.com] D-backs prospect Evan Marshall gains experience in 'pen - "You have to make sure you are ready to produce at any time," said Marshall, who is working on all his pitches this fall. "[I'm] just trying to stick to the game plan. I've been throwing with some sink, and I am working on finishing my fastball."

And the rest...

• [AP] GMs discuss more replay, September roster changes - It's not all trades at the winter meetings. "GMs also went over ways to protect pitchers from injuries after two were hit on the head by line drives late in the season. MLB staff have said a cap liner with Kevlar, the high-impact material used by military, law enforcement and NFL players for body armor, is among the ideas under consideration."
• [Globe & Mail[ Dodgers make $25.7 million posting bid for South Korean pitcher Ryu - "The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization said Saturday they have accepted a posting fee of $25.7 million for the 25-year-old left-hander. Major League Baseball later announced that the team was the Dodgers."
• [gulftoday.ae] MacPhail, oldest living Hall of Famer, dies at 95 - Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said "As a Hall of Fame executive, Lee developed one of the game’s strongest farm systems for the New York Yankees before serving as American League president for 10 years."
• [Stuff.co.nz] Diamondblacks strike out in final warm-up - I just love the idea of the New Zealand national baseball team being known as the Diamondblacks. No, that's not a misprint: the world-famous rugby team are known as the 'All Blacks' because of their playing gear, so it's a riff on that.