The Padres are telling other organizations that they are nearing a deal involving outfielder Melvin Upton, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The report does note that it “may ultimately be posturing” on San Diego’s part, so perhaps it’s worth taking with a grain of salt, but regardless it seems that the club could be pushing for action on the veteran outfielder.
Upton, 31, has recently ranked in MLBTR’s listing of the top trade candidates despite his still-sizable contract. The reason is two-fold: first, he’s in the midst of a career revival since coming to San Diego, hitting a useful .259/.316/.441 since the start of 2015 while contributing on the bases in the field. And second, the Friars are perhaps the most motivated seller in all of baseball, having already traded away players with future control in James Shields and Drew Pomeranz (not to mention the winter deal involving Craig Kimbrel).
It’s tough to know exactly what buyer would be lined up for Upton, as he could theoretically fit in a number of roles. He’s certainly capable of playing center, though is probably best utilized in the corner outfield at this stage of his career, as defensive metrics generally view him as a slightly below-average option up the middle. And though he has been worthy of regular playing time, most teams will probably prefer to use him in a fourth-outfielder or platoon capacity. Upton continues to carry platoon splits (though not especially troubling ones), has benefited from a slightly elevated BABIP over the last two years, and continues to strike out in nearly three of ten plate appearances.
That leaves a reasonably wide variety of potential trade partners on the table. Clubs like the Giants, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Nationals, Indians, and Cardinals have all been rumored to have interest in some sort of outfield addition. Most of these organizations, if any actually have interest, would seem to be set up either to pair Upton with existing, left-handed-hitting options or deploy him as a frequently-used reserve.
The major question, perhaps, is how the money will get sorted. Upton’s big free agent contract — signed with the Braves and since traded to the Pads in the first deal involving Kimbrel — is winding down, but remains an obstacle. He is earning $15.45MM this year and $16.45MM in 2017, which still seems to go beyond his on-field value, though certainly the contract isn’t under water to anywhere near the extent it once was. San Diego may also be willing to keep some cash on its books in order to improve the return, depending upon the position of its trade partners.
coo coo
Red Sox for prospects
Brixton
…but why?
jackblue411
They could use a 4th outfielder with young hurt. They also like to move holt around the infield
Mbolled
Young will be back in a couple of weeks, offense not an issue with sox and defense in left field also isn’t needed at Fenway. Holy has proven he can play everyday out their, Boston won’t be the destination for Mr. Upton
Mbolled
Holt has proven, damn autocorrect
dlevin11
Holt would be best option for giving infielders a day off now and then
Matt Galvin
Royals? Rangers? Indians? Dodgers? Giants.? Maybe with Cashner tonight,
ThePriceWasRight
not a royals guy. could be Indians or nats in my opinion
Polish Hammer
Cleveland needs help but not this overpriced stiff.
double
If a trade doesn’t involve the Red Sox, Cubs, or Braves there won’t be many comments on the site. Go Red Sox.
BoSoChiacchia
Wonder for who…….
ammiel
cant see it being Giants, maybe Indians. Expensive though, i think Padres are posturing, Texas may be one team to consider him also.
brettmar21
Color me intrigued, wouldn’t be at the top of my list but he could do better than the current Nats CF
bravesred 2
I got Cleveland.
ironwolf811
Not a bad guess. I also heard that the Padres might be willing to trade Upton to the Orioles. for Ubaldo Jimenez. The idea would be that they’d take the Ubaldo’s contract off the O’s hands and save money while the Orioles would assume Upton’s contract, which is greater. Plus Upton always loved hitting in Camden Yards, even once delaying accepting a suspension when he was with Tampa Bay so he could get in a few games there before serving the suspension.
Problem is this: Kim would be back soon, so he’ll have one corner OF spot. Reimold you could easily DFA but then you’d have to move Trumbo to DH. And Alvarez is there and he’s a lefty, on a club where you only have three other regulars who are LHBs. Would they part with him and eat his modest contract too?
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
He played well against the Orioles a few weeks ago.
Good Defense and he was hitting the ball well.
Maybe, the Orioles feel they could use him and Cashner in a two for one deal or something.
I mean if Rickard’s thumb is all busted up….
dwilson10
I was thinking the same thing but the 2 problems I see with that is do the O’s want to take on that much money and Kim is able to come off the DL on Tuesday. Unless Upton would play against lefties and Kim against righties.
bitterpadresfan
Probably a straight swap for moncada. Maybe moncada and Benintendi for Norris and Upton.
JZ23
Maybe the Padres will accept if they can’t get Trout
ZachPadres24
Terrible trade. Huge overpay for the Padres
raiders
A Padre fan can dream! Haha
Martin H.
Keep trolling, dude!
unsaturatedmatz
This proposal is nothing but greatness.
Fenway North
Buchholz for Upton swap
petersdylan36
With the way Upton has been playing this year, I would say no, maybe last offseason.
But I would like to entertain the idea of Buchholz in SD, Balsley and a change of scenery for him could do wonders, who knows.
I was maybe hoping Buchholz was added in on the back on the Pomeranz deal. The Padres have had such a random mix of SP this year. Wouldn’t hurt to try him out if available. Kinda like the Ian Kennedy pick up a few years ago.
Alexander Perry
The Padres want prospects for their estimated 2019 contention window, not a inconsistent 31 year old pitcher, we can call up some AAAA scrub for innings this year. The Padres farm system is still weak on pitching depth and that’s I suspect they will ask for..
zippytms
The Padres want whatever they can get. If they can get a pitcher that can go straight into the rotation with another year on his contract, that’s a win. The current rotation goes Cashner, Friedrich, Rea, Perdomo, Jackson with Ross and Johnson on the DL and Clemens is the next man up. That’s dreadful. Buchholz is a man without a job in Boston, but he’d slot near the top of that rotation this year and next. He’s a “buy low” right now, which Preller seems to love.
Upton is movable for the Padres because a) they’re obviously not contending, b) Jon Jay and Manuel Margot give depth at CF, and c) Dickerson and Renfroe are at the point where they need consistent MLB at-bats with nothing more to prove in AAA. Not only is he more valuable to a contender than he is to the Padres, but he and Kemp are blocking a couple of guys who are not only ready for MLB time but need it to continue to develop.
Since the Sox need to move Buchholz and need outfield help, the Padres are in a leverage position here. I think they want to swap Upton for Buchholz plus a middling prospect (Beeks? Steen?) with no money changing hands.
anoff
I mean, is he really still overpaid? On pace to hit .260/.308/.445 with 27HR and 33SB , plus above average defense (on pace for ~4 WAR). Seems like that would be worth $15mil on the open market, even with the lower-than-you’d-like OBP
padresad
This. I don’t understand why people keep saying Padres have to eat salary in an Upton deal. He’s a very useful player who could still easily command 13-15 mil per year in FA.
Ted
Fangraphs has him at 1.6 WAR, on pace for 2.7. They’re showing him with negative value defensively too, whereas baseball reference is a little more generous. I think you can argue he doesn’t need money thrown in for this year, but with 2017 left on his deal I’m not sure he’s tradeable without some cash too. Would you sign him for $16MM for 2017 based on this year’s numbers? I wouldn’t, but I can see the argument from a desperate team.
padresad
Not saying I would pay him $16 mil for next year but I’d bet he could get close to that. All it takes is one team.
Jeff Todd
If he keeps it up and teams believe in it. Not sure I’m quite there, personally. Age a factor, also. But it’s certainly arguable, esp. since it’s just a single season commitment beyond this one.
padresad
I mean, I think he could get a deal similar to what Fowler got last year. Fowler has done better this year when he has been on the field, but it seems like these guys keep getting paid more and more every offseason. I don’t think the Padres should eat more than $3m of his 2017 salary in a deal.
anoff
I think the litmus test is pretty easy: If he was a FA this offseason, would you extend him a QO? I certainly would, and QO is probably going to be more than his contract next year, so he’s probably worth it – albeit with almost zero surplus value to the team. Of course, this heavily discounts the value of the draft pick, and doesn’t really account for risk of decline/reverting to ‘bad’ Upton, but if your willing to risk paying him ~$18mil to snag a draft pick, he certainly seems to be worth $15mil independently of the pick
braves4life1
Coppy makes it happen helping the worst Farm in baseball, the Angels, in a 7 player for 1 trade….Braves get Mike Trout to bring in some excitement into the New Stadium
bitterpadresfan
Tell swanson to lack his bags. Melvin is coming home to Atlanta.
halos101
do you have to comment this on every article on this website?
braves4life1
Man, I’m just kidding!! It’s funny to watch you Halo fans just come unglued to ever mention Mike Trout being traded to any team. I just get a kick out of watching you guys. I’m done tonight Halos. See you tomorrow and we can breakdown the Trout to Atlanta deal.
halos101
at least do every viewer on this site a favor and stick to commenting trout rumors on articles that have trout in them…
Gogerty
Well he is persistent.
thestripedtaco
Not new to the site but first time posting. O’s fan
O’s get: cashner, upton Jr.
Padres get: ubaldo, Reimold, Christian walked, and a fringe A pitching prospect.
No money changes hands. O’s dump
Jimenez and get a slight corner outfield upgrade for this and next season plus another starting option. Thoughts?
nmonahan
Why would the Padres want Jimenez? If they trade Cashner they are probably getting more than fringe prospect
Injediwetrust
Why would the Pads want Ubaldo,
anoff
no way, and it’s not close.
Padres already have a log jam in the OF, with Jay/Upton being moved to make room for Margot/Renfro, and Wil Myers is entrenched at 1B – we neither want nor need Reimold nor Walker. Ubaldo has negative trade value, and a fringe A ball player has almost no value.
Padres would literally be better off doing nothing an extending a QO to Cashner, because a 1st rnd pick is more valuable than that entire package from the O’s
ironwolf811
It’s not that Ubaldo has trade value; he’d probably be DFA as soon as he arrived unless their pitching coach believes in miracles. It’s that the money owed to Ubaldo is much less than the money owed to Melvin Upton.
Nobody would want Reimold; that’s true.
I agree that keeping Cashner and making the QO is a good idea, but Cashner does have an injury history and if he got hurt again between now and the end of the season, the Pads wouldn’t extend that offer to him (he might take it) and they end up with nothing.
The Orioles do have a decent 3B prospect in Jomar Reyes and Mike Wright has a very good fastball but just needs some help developing his secondary pitches. Maybe a change of scenery would help him as it did Arrieta. Since the Padres seem intent on being bad for a couple of seasons and amassing draft picks and prospects, the trade makes some sense. If that wasn’t the case, why would they trade Pomeranz, a player they had control over for a couple of more seasons?
mitt24
You got the ubaldo part right
Dougly Michael
Good call! Might be close!
zippytms
I think the Padres go for something close to this, but different pieces coming back from O’s. Jimenez makes sense since the contracts match and the Padres need rotation help through next year, while they have relative depth in the OF. I think they want Jimenez + a prospect with no money in the deal. The prospect would be of the high-upside single-A pitcher/SS/CF type.
Neither Reimold nor Walker make sense for the Padres, as they have Myers/Wallace for 1B and Dickerson/Renfroe/Blash for corner OFs after Kemp & MUpton. Both Dickerson and Renfroe have nothing left to prove in AAA and need some quality MLB time to continue their progress.
petersdylan36
Upton and Norris to the Indians
Seems to fit for the Indians, I just don’t know their farm system that well.
David Galvan
Casher and Upton to Kansas City for Chris Young and 2 a ball prospects
zippytms
I’m skeptical that Cashner and Norris go to the same place. Rumor has it that Cashner doesn’t like pitching to Norris.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
LOL where did you hear this!?
tigermr1
I think they’re bluffing
jimbo504 2
to the Cardinals for Kolten Wong please.
Injediwetrust
That makes no sense. Jay gets his cast off mid week next week.
jimbo504 2
what does that have to do with anything?
cardinalnationhouston
Oh please no. Wong is young and still has upside. Upton is a terrible option when you take that insane contract into consideration He is probbly worth half of what he makes and still K’s over 30% of the time. I have zero interest in this guy unless it is straight up for John Mabry. I would be stunned if this is the Cardinals, They need relievers and maybe a cheap 4th outfielder but not this stiff. Gladly take Jon Jay back though.
Lanidrac
Agreed. Wong (and Grichuk) has been much better since returning from his stint at AAA. Besides, the positional alignment doesn’t fit. With Moss and Carpenter due back pretty soon, they’d have Upton, Holliday, Grichuk, Piscotty, Moss, and Adams trying to get playing time at only four positions, and they’d then be short a starting infielder until/if Peralta makes it back unless you actually think Gyorko’s recent hot streak means he should be an everyday player.
The Cardinals do need bullpen help, but that’s it.
DieHardMsFan
I doubt Dipoto goes after Upton because it seems he prefers players with a high OBP but I wouldn’t mind the M’s trading for him. Would give them another option to play Center and he is an upgrade in LF (better defense and offense).
babyface67
“Haaave you met Ted…?”
Injediwetrust
Jankowski is in now in CF when Melvin started the game in CF. hmmmm.
petersdylan36
Well Upton moved over to left
Injediwetrust
Doh. Just noticed that. Got wrapped up.
sascoach2003
That’s a pretty telling sign. Like when Austin Jackson was traded from the Tigers…in the game, then hugs in the dugout…
anoff
Dickerson is LOL bad on defense, so switched him out of the game and slid Upton over to LF and placed Jank in CF
sacball
yeah and Upton moved over to left
sascoach2003
Since everybody else is guessing, I’m going Rangers with Cashner and Norris.
Injediwetrust
Wouldn’t that be putting all your eggs in one basket ?
sascoach2003
Pretty much fills the shopping list for the Rangers.
Injediwetrust
I’m good with that as it means a decent haul would be coming back and AJ know the system well.
zippytms
As I said above, I doubt Cashner and Norris go to the same team since Cashner reportedly doesn’t like pitcing to Norris.
Alberto1018
not to red sox he is bad
Thronson5
I see him going to the Giants. Maybe in wrong but I think he will end up there. If not there I really don’t have a guess. I just think that team is going to be aggressive in upgrading and as it looks right now they could use some help, they are in a little slump.
Thronson5
I’m really surprised though that I haven’t heard Matt Kemps name in trade talks. He could help a team and my Dodgers are still paying half his contract lol
Injediwetrust
Not half. 30M of the 105M. 18M.the first year and 3M the other 4 yrs.
Thronson5
Always someone that has to prove someone wrong huh? Glad to get that out of the way lol. I was joke..hence the “lol”. But thanks for being that person that loves to point out when someone is wrong
ammiel
With Pence returning, Blanco the 4th OF, Pagan and Span set in stone…Not to mention Williamson who is starting to blossom, why would the Giants go for an overpaid Upton, with so many better options available IF they choose to go for another OF option??
Thronson5
Can never have to many outfielders and they’ve had plenty of injuries this year so nothing is guaranteed. Seems like Pence gets hurt a lot. Not a Giants fan and don’t follow them much but I know they have had their injury issues
Black Mario
That seems plausible since Gomes will be out awhile
TJECK109
They tell clubs they are nearing a deal…. Sounds like a attempt to get a bid war going. Everyone is nearing something.
ilikebaseball 2
Probably Schwarber for Upton straight up, no money involved.
rizdakc99
Upton for a decent AAA prospect like Shelby Miller.
metseventually 2
How has no one commented on this yet
masnhater
O’s get – Cashner, Upton
Padres get – Mancini, Jimenez, 25-30 team prospect
Jimenez balances some money and gives Padres someone to take the hill next year when they aren’t contending. Padres still shed some money and pick up intriguing prospect in Mancini
guinnesspelican
I would rather trade for Donald Duck than this guy.
I mean I’m sure he’s a good guy and all….?
Bob Smiley
does Donald Duck hit 20 homers and steal 2o bases? not many hitters do…and he could be a 30/30 player with a little hot/luck streak.
guinnesspelican
Melvin upton Jr. (With all due respect to the car salesman industry) should be selling cars. Upton’s uptown deals is a nice fit. Do people forget that this guy was an average .200 hitter back to back years?
Bob, you must be his agent because after reading your post of 30/30 and 20 homers (on a consistent basis) I wonder if there is some bias here?
I actually think we need to check his pee more closely this year.
BoldyMinnesota
Or maybe he was having down years and this is the real upton jr, you don’t know
ronjon22
A deal that brings Cashner to Os is worthwhile for them. Os team is almost complete, and parting with players like Mike Wright or Mancini (no place for him in bigs) would be a good swap.if Cashmer is included. Cashner is a good fit, Ubaldo is not now and will never be a Baltimore Oriole. He is a Padre, plain and simple, will do well out there for a losing team. But if Cashner stays healthy and benefits from Oriole Magic,..the rotation that has been so maligned will actually end up great at end of season…in order..Tillman, Gausman, Gallardo, Bundy, Cashner..Bullpen is first rate. Vance is a good long reliever, Tyler Wilson still maturing, but maybe done this year. Bundy may be higher than Gausman,, He is a pitcher, and he IS an Oriole (easy thing for true Birds to spot). Its a shame brain transplants are not successful, Mike Wright may be a Curt Schilling….just not in Baltimore…Trade him…
Lanidrac
Since when do the Cardinals have interest in an outfield addition? Moss will be back soon, at which point they’ll actually a logjam at OF/1B with five quality starters for four positions.
cardinalnationhouston
Just my personal opinion but i think they would like to get a guy that can play center field and be used as a late inning defensive replacement.. Grichuk is a poor defender right now and Pham is streaky and has trouble playing more than a few games in a row. Moss plays a lot at 1st base and is a poor outfielder and so is Holliday. I don’t think it is a glaring weakness they HAVE to fix but it would help if the right deal comes along. No way they pay Upton to be that guy unless San Diego pays about 75% of that contract. Cards could care less about stolen bases since that is not their game anyways.