Blue Jays add LF Upton Jr.
The San Diego Padres traded left fielder Melvin Upton Jr. to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league right-hander Hansel Rodriguez.
The trade, which continues the Padres’ rebuilding, was announced Tuesday morning, hours before the Padres played at Toronto in the middle game of a threegame series.
Upton has had a big season for the Padres, who are mired in fourth place in the National League West Division. He is hitting .256 with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs, 46 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. He’s hit three walk-off home runs.
Rodriguez, 19, was 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA in six starts for the rookie-level Bluefield Blue Jays.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller said the deal had been in the works for a few weeks. Upton has rejuvenated his career after struggling after signing a big deal with the Atlanta Braves.
“He’s played well,” Preller said. “He’s really played both sides of the ball. He has a chance to be a 30-30 guy.”
The Padres reportedly will pay all but $5 million of the $22.5 million remaining on Upton’s contract.
Cardinals
St. Louis put right-handed reliever Trevor Rosenthal on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Manager Mike Matheny said Rosenthal recently mentioned he wanted to get checked for a possible problem. The former closer is having tests that might show why he suddenly became so ineffective. Rosenthal, 26, lost his closer’s job in late June. He is is 2-4 with a 5.13 ERA and 14 saves in 18 chances.
Nationals
Washington reinstated first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the disabled list after he missed 13 games because of a strained left rib cage. Zimmerman recently completed a rehab assignment at Class A Potomac. He was batting only .221 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs for Washington when he got hurt.
Marlins
Second baseman Dee Gordon will be eligible for reinstatement from his 80-game suspension Thursday before Miami’s game against St. Louis. Gordon, last year’s NL batting champ, was suspended for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.