Report: Tigers' Upton not planning to opt out after 2017 season

Justin Upton is apparently in for the long haul in Detroit.

Though the Tigers (53-67) appear destined to miss the playoffs for the third straight season, Upton reportedly has no plans to opt out this winter of the six-year, $132.75-million contract he signed with Detroit ahead of the 2016 campaign, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

As his teammates' names were bandied about in rumors last month leading up the non-waiver trade deadline, Upton said he hadn't yet considered hitting the open market this offseason, though he insinuated that playing for a contender was a priority.

"I haven’t thought about it, honestly," Upton told George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press at the end of July. "But I mean, I came here to win, so I'd have to see what the landscape is like at the end of it.

"I enjoy playing here. I enjoy the guys in the clubhouse. I enjoy the atmosphere, the city. That decision is long down the road, months away."

After stumbling through a disappointing first season with Detroit, the 29-year-old has rebounded with aplomb in 2017, putting up an .889 OPS (134 OPS+) with 23 home runs, 33 doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 113 games heading into Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Only 19 qualified players have accumulated more WAR in 2017 than Upton (3.8), who made his fourth career trip to the All-Star Game last month.

If he doesn't opt out of his contract, Upton will earn $22.125 million in each of the next four seasons. If he elects for free agency, however, Upton would be one of the most highly sought-after outfielders this winter, along with Lorenzo Cain, Jay Bruce, Carlos Gonzalez, and former teammate J.D. Martinez.