BLUE JAYS LAND OUTFIELDER UPTON JR.
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and cash from the San Diego Padres for pitcher Hansel Rodriguez.
What does it give the Toronto Blue Jays
In Upton, the Blue Jays get a quality, athletic outfielder who can (and will probably) play all three outfield positions. With Kevin Pillar's emergence last season as a top-flight defensive center-fielder, look for Upton to be used mostly in left and right field in Toronto. Signed through next season, Upton will likely replace either Michael Saunders in left or Jose Bautista in right--both are potential free agents this winter--on a full-time basis in 2017.
What does it give the San Diego Padres
For the Padres, this is a solid deal for the future as Rodriguez owns plenty of long-range potential. The 19-year-old right-hander still has a long way to go in his development but already displays the ability to become a future rotation regular in the big leagues. He might be able to progress a little more quickly within San Diego's farm system, too, since the Pads are rebuilding while the Blue Jays are clearly in win-now mode these days.
Fantasy impact
Upton's fantasy value for the rest of 2016 could suffer if forced back into a platoon role with Toronto, but his longer-range prospects have improved moving from the National League (and San Diego's spacious PETCO Park) to the American League (and Rogers Centre in Toronto). As for Rodriguez, his long-range fantasy value is quite good but he is a few seasons away from reaching the bigs in Southern California.
