Report: Blue Jays agree to deal for Melvin Upton Jr.

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a trade with the San Diego Padres for outfielder Melvin Upton Jr., Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported on Tuesday morning.

Upton sat out Monday night’s game for the Padres, a 4-2 victory for the Blue Jays.

While pitching remains the most obvious area of need for the Blue Jays, Upton provides improved depth at all three outfield spots, another option against elite left-handed pitching and a dose of speed, something the team lacks.

He’s a big ticket with the remaining third of his $15.45 million salary still due, along with another $16.45 million in 2017, but according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, the Padres will cover the majority of that.

Upton is batting .256/.304/.439 in 92 games with 16 homers and 45 RBIs, and he’s stolen 20 bases in 25 attempts while also walking just 23 times against 106 strikeouts.

With files from Shi Davidi