Toronto Blue Jays Reportedly Listening to Offers for Melvin Upton Jr.
According to multiple reports, the Toronto Blue Jays are listening to offers for Melvin Upton Jr. and are willing to part ways with the veteran outfielder.
The Toronto Blue Jays Opening Day roster is yet to be announced, but it sounds like outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. will not make the team. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Blue Jays are exploring alternatives to Upton Jr., but are yet to make a final decision.
Sources: The Jays are looking at alternatives to Melvin Upton, Jr. for their roster, although they have not made a final decision.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 1, 2017
“Exploring alternatives” seems like a nice way of saying the player won’t make the roster, which is something Olney mentioned as well. As for potential fits for the 32-year-old, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman believes the San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays could be interested.
Jays r listening on Melvin Upton. Among teams that make sense: tigers, o's, rays, giants
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 1, 2017
Both the Rays and Giants are in need of a right-handed outfielder and Upton makes sense as a depth piece. The Baltimore Orioles also make sense on paper, but are “not a fit,” according to Heyman.
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Upton is owed $16.45 million this season, but the San Diego Padres will pay $11.45 million of his salary, making him an affordable piece for the Jays to move. He’s also set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, so any potential team won’t have to worry about adding any term to their roster.
Despite his appealing contract, Upton Jr. is what he is at this point career, which isn’t much aside from a strikeout prone backup outfielder. In 57 games with the Jays last season, he batted .196/.261/.318 and was a platoon outfielder who spent the majority of his time in left field.
Upton was expected to compete for playing time in left field this season, but after a spring where he batted .194/.216/.472 with three home runs in 14 Grapefruit League games, the team has decided to move on.
With Upton no longer in the picture, the Jays will likely go with a platoon of Ezequiel Carrera and Dalton Pompey in left field until one of them pulls away with the job, or an external option emerges, perhaps Angel Pagan?
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What do you think about the Toronto Blue Jays parting ways with Melvin Upton Jr.? Are you comfortable with their situation in left field? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.