If you don't come in first, then you're last. Yesterday the Atlanta Braves added their second big name and second Upton of the offseason while the Phillies watched. That does not mean that they did not try.
According to David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phillies contacted Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers about a trade for Upton. Simply put, the Phillies did not have what the Diamondbacks wanted in return.
The Diamondbacks got a starting third baseman in return from the Braves in Martin Prado. The Phillies had no comparable player to offer in return. So, the Phillies will instead face Upton 18 times a season for the next three years.
See Murphy's full report here:
http://mobile.philly.com/sports/phillies/?wss=/philly/sports/phillies&id=188314911&viewAll=y#more
