Blue Jays acquire Melvin Upton Jr. to fortify outfield

Melvin Upton Jr. rebounded with the Padres. (AP)

 

The Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday acquired Melvin Upton Jr., the outfielder they sought for the stretch drive, and so would become the third team in two years to own a piece of Upton’s five-year, $75.25 million contract.

The San Diego Padres received minor-league pitcher Hansel Rodriguez in return and will cover a good portion of the $22 million owed to Upton through the 2017 season. Fox Sports was first to report the trade agreement.

Upton, a right-handed hitter, could play all three outfield positions for the Blue Jays, behind Michael Saunders in left field, Kevin Pillar in center and Jose Bautista in right.

Over just 16 months, Upton was part of both the Padres’ plan to contend – two Aprils ago he was a throw-in salary dump when the Padres acquired Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel – and their plan to start over. While it appears he might never play to the expectations of the free-agent contract he signed with the Braves after the 2012 season, Upton had returned to being a capable player over one and a half seasons in San Diego. In 92 games this season, Upton batted .256 with a .304 on-base percentage, 16 home runs and 20 steals, along with being one of the better defensive outfielders in the National League, and therefore a significant upgrade over the player he became in Atlanta.

While those numbers remain well below what the Braves would have hoped for, they exceeded the Padres’ expectations, to the point where they can get some of that money off their books and get Rodriguez in return. A 19-year-old Dominican right-hander with a big fastball, Rodriguez made six starts for Bluefield in the Appalachian League and was among the Blue Jays’ top 20 prospects.

The Blue Jays, defending AL East champions, awoke Tuesday morning three games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the East and in position for the AL’s second wild card. Saunders, healthy again, has been one of the Blue Jays’ better players. A left-handed hitter, he’s hit left-handed pitching better than right, so a simple platoon with Upton probably won’t happen. Pillar is an elite outfielder with a .295 on-base percentage. Bautista played Monday night after recovering from a toe injury for about five weeks, during which time Ezequiel Carrera and Junior Lake had the majority of at-bats in right field. Lake was designated for assignment Monday.

The Blue Jays are expected to remain busy through Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline, as they also seek upgrades in their rotation and in the bullpen. The Padres, in their second or third iteration under general manager A.J. Preller, are now in the mode of accumulating prospects and organizational depth. To that end, they traded James Shields to the Chicago White Sox, Fernando Rodney to the Miami Marlins and Drew Pomeranz to the Boston Red Sox in the past two months. Speculation has them shopping catcher Derek Norris, outfielder Jon Jay and starter Andrew Cashner, among others, as well.