Blue Jays acquire outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. from the Padres
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. from the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitching prospect Hansel Rodriguez, as first reported by FOX Sports MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal early Tuesday.
Upton, 31, is enjoying a resurgence this season, batting .256/.304/.439 with 16 homers, 45 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He has been especially effective against left-handers, hitting .282/.337/.576. It's his second season with San Diego following two subpar seasons with the Atlanta Braves and eight seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, who drafted him second overall in 2002.
He'll join a Blue Jays outfield that features Jose Bautista, who is just off the DL because of a toe injury, All-Star Michael Saunders and Kevin Pillar.
Upton is earning $15,450,000 this season and is set to make $16,450,000 next season -- the final year of his contract.
The Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles are among the other teams that reportedly were interested in Upton ahead of the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.
Rodriguez, a 19-year-old right-hander, is 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA and 26 strikeouts in six starts (32 1/3 innings) in the rookie-league level this season.
The @BlueJays acquire Melvin Upton Jr. and cash considerations from Padres in exchange for pitcher Hansel Rodriguez pic.twitter.com/dZ9YYgcjTB
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 26, 2016
Sources: #BlueJays agree to acquire Melvin Upton Jr. from #Padres for Class A prospect. Financial terms not known. Likely finalized today.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 26, 2016
Sources: #Orioles offered Jimenez and two minor leaguers to #Padres for Upton. Deal believed to have broken down over finances.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 26, 2016
Thank you to the @Padres organization, fans and teammates for all the support and the opportunity. I enjoyed everything about my time in SD
— Melvin Upton Jr. (@MelvinUptonJr) July 26, 2016
Im excited to join my new @BlueJays teammates today and can't wait to help continue the winning tradition that's been built here. #letsgo
— Melvin Upton Jr. (@MelvinUptonJr) July 26, 2016
