The Braves land B.J. Upton for $15 million a year for five years, a total of $75.25 million. Nice job by Cork Gaines:

So that 5-year, $75.0 million contract I predicted back in September? My bad.

I assume this means the Braves won’t be bringing back Michael Bourn.

It took a deal reported to be worth $75.25 million and five years for the Braves to get their man, but he’s an ideal fit in Atlanta. Indeed, better than Michael Bourn, who manned the position for the past season and a half before he became a free agent and also was considered a possibility to return.

Mainly, Upton’s right-handed bat helps balance a lineup that leans towards the left, and was even more tilted with the lefty Bourn. Upton, at 28, also is nearly two years younger than Bourn, who turns 30 on Dec. 27.

Bourn, however, produced more value over the last few years than Upton. So this is not an improvement for the team. I hope the Braves aren’t putting too much emphasis on B.J.’s power surge at the end of the 2012 season. It came at the cost of a high number of outs.

The Braves did not over-pay here, but they didn’t improve the team. They’re getting what they pay for.