After seasons of being offered 1-year contracts and no long term deal, former Tampa Bay Rays center fielder, Melvin Emanuel “B. J.” Upton, is heading to Atlanta to join the Braves.

Upton’s deal is reported to be $75.25 million over 5 years, the largest free agent contract awarded by the Braves. The contract is pending Upton passing a physical. Upton had turned down a $13.3 million, one-year offer from the Rays in October, because he sought a more lucrative long-term deal. He will receive an average of $15.5 million a year over the life of the contract.

As compensation, the Rays will get a pick in June’s draft that will come between the first and second rounds. Upton is expected to replace Michael Bourn in center field for the Braves. Other than the Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies had shown interest in Upton. The Rays accepted the fact they couldn’t compete with Upton on the open market, just as they had with left fielder, Carl Crawford after the 2010 season.

The qualifying offer was made to make sure the Rays would get a compensatory draft pick. Upton was the only center fielder in Major League Baseball to play at least 144 games each year over the past five years, and was the longest tenured Ray at the end of the season.

Upton was the second overall pick in the June 2002 draft and was projected to be the Ray’s shortstop of the future. He turned 28 in August. Upton leaves the Rays as the organization’s all-time leader in walks (430) and strikeouts (1,020).