Report: Blue Jays agree to acquire Melvin Upton Jr. from Padres
— -- The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to acquire outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. from the San Diego Padres, according to Fox Sports.
The Blue Jays will trade an unidentified Class A player to the Padres as part of the deal, Fox Sports reported.
Upton, 31, is in the midst of a bounce-back season with the Padres, batting .256 with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs and a team-leading 20 stolen bases. The 12-year veteran, who played in only 87 games last season, figures to provide outfield depth and versatility to the Blue Jays, who trail the first-place Orioles by three games in the American League East.
The Orioles also reportedly had expressed an interest in trading for Upton.
Upton will make $15.45 million this season and $16.45 million next season, the final year of a five-year deal that he signed with the Braves before the 2013 season. The Padres will pay for a significant portion of Upton's remaining money on the contract, according to Sportsnet.
The Blue Jays currently have All-Star Michael Saunders in left field and slugger Jose Bautista in right field, meaning Upton likely will have to compete with center fielder Kevin Pillar for playing time in Toronto. The Blue Jays also could play Edwin Encarnacion more regularly at first base, opening up more at-bats at designated hitter for Saunders, Bautista and Upton.
Upton would become the fourth prominent player traded away this season by the rebuilding Padres, who also have parted with James Shields, Drew Pomeranz and Fernando Rodney.
Related Stories
ABC News Live