11:04pm: It seems that the O’s are next in line behind the Jays in the current pecking order, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter), with the Friars expected to make a final decision tomorrow.
8:57pm:Â The Blue Jays are considered the “front-runners” to acquire outfielder Melvin Upton from the Padres, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. The 31-year-old has been a healthy scratch in each of the last two days as the team looks to secure a trade, though skipper Andy Green noted earlier today that “nothing’s done yet,” as Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune was among those to tweet.
Both the Orioles and Indians remain in pursuit of Upton, according to Rosenthal, so indeed it seems that a deal isn’t quite complete. Prior reports had suggested that Baltimore was the likeliest landing spot, though, so it would appear that there has been some recent movement in the market as San Diego tries to find the best possible return for the resurgent veteran.
Toronto has been said to be seeking another outfielder to slot into the mix. As the Jays’ depth chart shows, the team currently features two left-handed-hitting options in Michael Saunders and Ezequiel Carrera, along with righties in center fielder Kevin Pillar and right fielder Jose Bautista. The versatile Upton, who has spent plenty of time in left this year and up the middle in the past, would make a solid fit with the rest of the unit. He offers value on the field and on the bases to go with a bat that has been above-average since the start of 2015, though his ongoing strikeout proclivity remains a concern.
While Saunders is in the midst of a breakout campaign and has hit southpaws with aplomb in 2016, he does carry typical (but not drastic) platoon splits over his career. Pillar has not been as dynamic at the plate as might have been hoped this season, as he carries a .260/.290/.382 batting line. And the superstar Bautista is only just returning from a toe injury, with that malady only adding to the pre-existing reasons (advancing age and declining defensive metrics) to limit his exposure in the outfield.
It is not clear exactly how a deal might be structured between San Diego and Toronto. Upton is earning $15.45MM this year, with $16.45MM promised to him for 2016. Rumors of a potential swap with the O’s centered around an exchange of similarly-expensive contracts — righty Ubaldo Jimenez would apparently head out west in that scenario — with Baltimore giving added value in a prospect package.
There doesn’t appear to be a player on Toronto’s books that is analogous to Jimenez, though just-designated reliever Drew Storen — who’s owed $8.375MM this year — could represent an offset, and the Pads could simply hold onto whatever salary is needed to facilitate both teams’ interests. While the Jays opened the year right near their team-record payroll, they might also conceivably take on more of Upton’s salary to reduce the minor league assets needed to make a deal. That could be easier to do for the 2016 portion of the obligations, as the substantial salaries of Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and R.A. Dickey will all leave the balance sheet after the present season.
As with the Orioles, the Blue Jays have also been said to have engaged the Padres on starter Andrew Cashner. It certainly still seems plausible that he and Upton could be packaged, or that they could be moved in separate deals. Regardless of how things turn out, the righty’s own availability would seem likely to factor into these teams’ decisionmaking process regarding Upton.
max l
Can Upton pitch all of a sudden?? That would seem to be the Jays bigger need then adding a 4th OF when Ezequial Carrera was more than adequate in that capacity.
go_jays_go
Why it makes sense:
1. It pushes JB to 1B/DH (and will split those duties with EE)
2. Upton is a CF, and should be able to transition to RF
3. This pushes Carrera to the bench, where he is better suited
Why it doesn’t make sense
1. It potentially blocks Pompey
2. I’m guessing here, but I’d say that the Padres would ask for Pompey in a trade for Upton
For example: Pompey + Storen for Upton
iains 2
To be frank, I’m not sure of the point of adding him to Toronto. A lot of money for a bench player
Ted
I think it’s a fair assumption he would start at least the majority of the time in the OF. Bautista right now is a DH playing RF and Saunders isn’t much better. Putting Upton out there and sitting Smoak (EE or JB at 1B) helps the offense and defense, and gives the Jays two excellent bench bats in Carrera and switch hitting Smoak. Jays may have decided pitching is too expensive this year and a cheap bat makes more sense.
ericl
This makes no sense for the Blue Jays. They don’t need another outfielder. Carrera is doing a good job as the #4 outfielder & they also have Pompey, who is having a good year in AAA. They need to add a pitcher and not waste their assets on another outfielder.
BoldyMinnesota
He is controlled for next year as well, and can start if Bautista or Saunders leave in free agency
ericl
I’d rather let Pompey play than take Upton & his ridiculous contract
go_jays_go
$15 – $16m for a 2 WAR player isn’t ridiculous.
MB923
Yes it is. A 2 WAR isn’t very good. Matter of fact out of 54 OFers this year ,he ranks 31st in WAR and is on pace for about 2.2 WAR.
bleacherbum
How do you get out of 54 OFers? There is 30 teams in the league x 3 Starting OF’s per team = 90 total.
Regardless, he has revitalized his career. The guy is playing Gold glove caliber defense in left, has 5 more home runs at this point in the season that his brother does who has always been the better player of the two. Not to mention he brings a speed dynamic to either club (BAL or TOR) that neither currently has.
MB923
FanGraphs had that. Probably only listed Qualified Outfielders
stl_cards16 2
You are spinning being the 31st best OF as a bad thing?
agentx
Upton may not be a game changer for TOR or BAL. However, TOR may figure it’s ore worthwhile to trade Storen and a middling prospect to keep Upton than to risk him being acquired by BAL and having a Cory Ross-like pennant drive and/or post-season streak.
Matt Galvin
Maybe Cashner is also in deal and a 3 way with Max Pentcoat going to Brewers with Garza or Smith going to Blue Jays
pgmitchell
wow you read all that from the article?
fatslobs
Can Norris catch a knuckle ball? I agree – no way it’s only Upton.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
Interesting. I’m nit sure why the blue jays would need him other than bench depth, it maybe the Padres can get some lottery timer prospect in return.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
*not
*but
*ticket
Sorry for the typos. Small phones don’t work well with big hands!
hacksawjim
he would be an upgrade at OF bench… and some 2017 OF insurance with two FA’s potentially gone next year.
imo
Frank Waller
Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Cashner and Upton switching uniforms while they are here. Maybe Norris as well. Dickey, Thole, Pompey and Pentecost go to the Padres for Cashner, Upton and Norris. Upton becomes 4th OF, Carrera to Buffalo, Norris becomes back up catcher and Norris takes Dickeys place in rotation.
Frank Waller
Should read Cashner taking Dickeys place in rotation
ChicagOs
Upton may actually cost so little if they were considering taking on Jimenez that the Jays just want to block the O’s in the AL East
hacksawjim
i think sticking the O’s with Jiminez for the remainder of his deal is an excellent idea.
imo
bradthebluefish
Hmm… Not a bad idea.
The only thing I hate about teams “blocking trades” is that the Orioles will simply get another OF. So to me it is never worth it.
The Morning After Pillar
Upton in RF, Jose to DH. Edwin @ 1st and Smoak to the bench. Upton is a better defender than Bautista and would be more than a 4th outfielder in Toronto
BoldyMinnesota
Ya and Carreras been awful lately, when he plays to much he gets exposed
sddew
Bautista has insisted he’s not a DH (despite watching his obvious decline), and I doubt the Jays would force him there. But we will see. Doesn’t seem to make sense to me, and I don’t think Upton is such that they need to do it to block Baltimore.
Aoe3
Posted by: The Morning After Pillar
” Upton in RF, Jose to DH. Edwin @ 1st and Smoak to the bench. Upton is a better defender than Bautista and would be more than a 4th outfielder in Toronto.”
——————————
I was initially against the trade but this made total sense… The pitching market is not favourable right now and we should wait in the off season.. We still have Hutch and with Upton’s added power and speed should put us over the top if we have to go to that.
22.1mill until until 2021 is expensive tho.
Better bang for our buck in the off season or next deadline.. I just hope he’s improved his attitude from his earlier dugout scuffles in Atlanta and Tampa.
ericl
Hutchison isn’t the answer for Toronto. He is terrible on the road. He’s also given up 12 runs in his last 2 starts in AAA. If they are going through with moving Sanchez to the bullpen, then they need to add a starter. Hutchison won’t get the Jays to the playoffs
The Jays won’t force Bautista to DH. I’d also rather just bring Pompey up than waste assets & money on Upton. There are cheaper options out there than Upton is. Upton isn’t worth anywhere near the money he is still owed
go_jays_go
“Hutchison isn’t the answer for Toronto”
You realize that Hutchison is our SIXTH starter. Most teams would be thrilled to have him as their backup guy.
What matters is that you improve the team overall, whether it would be pitching, hitting, or defense.
Ideally we upgrade our pitching; that I agree. But as Aoe2 pointed out, the pitching market is crazy expensive right now.
Upton is not a bad choice; he’s not great either. It really depends on how much you want to spent on this season.
Phillies2017
Regarding Ubaldo Jimenez– the Orioles should just look to see if they can relieve themselves of that salary
a deal of Melvin Upton for Ubaldo Jimenez and Prospects makes much more sense than a Jays deal
jaymez33
his ego is too much for this team. it’d be a waste to get him
TJECK109
Someone has toilet paper word of the day…. Analogous? Really?
davidcoonce74
As a Padres fan I’d love to see Upton moved. He’s having a pretty good year- on pace for 30/30 and has a reasonable OBP and the defense in left is fantastic. I hate the idea of Ubaldo – I think he’s beyond fixing and he’s expensive. But maybe a couple little pieces. It’s all about salary relief; Upton’s not going to be around when the Padres are good again.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
Well, who do the Blue Jays have to offer to the Padres that would make them the so called ‘front’ runner over the Orioles?
grantr
Someone who isn’t Ubaldo Jimenez…
davidcoonce74
Someone mentioned Pompey or Hutchison. Either one would be good, I think – it’s not going to be a huge haul unless the Padres take on Upton’s salary, but jettisoning Upton for whatever you can get is something a rebuilding team should be doing. Acquiring Ubaldo Jimenez is exactly the wrong thing a rebuilding team should be doing.
jbs32
Literally anyone? Baltimore is one or the few farm systems seen as worse than the Jays and they are using this trade to try to unload Jiminez. As the article states Jays have nothing close to as bad as Jiminez
Brixton
Someway the two salary dump guys in that trade (Upton and Maybin) both ended up supplying value to their acquiring team.
amendoza1539
May in wasn’t a salary dump as much of a horrible player dump. He signed a 5 yr/25mil contract with SD. And average of 5 mil per year is hardly a dump. He was injury prone and that is the main reason SD got rid of him, never sure if he would be the same as his pre-signing showed… IMO
amendoza1539
Maybin* Autocorrect didn’t even like his name…
youknowit
Upton is being traded for similar reasons to Maybin. National viewers perceive as a salary dump but Upton Jr. but it’s to create opportunity for the guys who may be with the Padres long-term. Upton now might be one of the few 25/25 players by seasons end. But Margot is already a better CF and leads the Pacific Coast league in OF assist and has 24 swipes of his own. Renfroe is mashing and is ready for a major shot. IMO they and Hedges are the Padres current top 3 prospects with over a dozen exciting options High A and lower. But both of those OFers are potentially huge parts of Padres OF 2017 and beyond and Jankowski wants to be an everyday player too. Both Renfroe and Margot should be up in September or sooner. Margot and Allen will probably be the two best major league players that the Padres got for Kimbrel. Margot has chance to be elite CF. Can’t trade Kemp’s contract but Upton has value once again and how expensive is he when teams consider compared to next year’s QO price for players? He isn’t overpaid if he puts up 2016 numbers or better for his new club?
davidcoonce74
Well, Maybin had a good year for Atlanta last season and is playing reasonably well this season for Detroit. His injury history is real although he was healthy last season and was hurt this year on a fluke spring training HBP. I don’t think he was the salary dump in that trade – that was Quentin, who made a bit more money and was immediately released and then retired.
Raptors Rampage
Looking at the jays farm system the Padres could look at a Carl Wise 22 3B in A ball, Angel Perdomo 22 year old pitcher in A ball, and Ryan McBroom a 24 year old in A ball for Upton Jr.
I am personally intrigued by Angel Perdomo and his 6’6 200lbs frame.
Matt Galvin
Per Rosenthal has been Traded for a Class A Prospect from Blue Jays.