Blue Jays acquire Melvin Upton from Padres

The San Diego Padres continue to be major sellers as the Aug.1 trade deadline nears.

After trade talks broke down with the Baltimore Orioles, the Padres sent outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league right-hander Hansel Rodriguez.

Upton, who is having his finest offensive season (.256 with 16 home runs, 45 RBI and 20 stolen bases) since 2012, is a defensive weapon who will provide insurance in the outfield.

The Blue Jays, who currently hold second AL wild card spot, most likely will platoon with Kevin Pillar — a top-flight center fielder. The Blue Jays already have All-Star Michael Saunders in left field and slugger Jose Bautista in right field. Upton figures to see at-bats against left-handed pitchers, who he has a .913 on-base-plus slugging percentage against.

For the Padres, who happen to be in Toronto for a three-game series, the deal will free up playing time for their young outfielders Travis Jankowski and Alex Dickerson.

Rodriguez, 19, is in his third season with Bluefield in the Rookie level Appalachian League. He's 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA in six starts.

The trade with the Orioles, which would have included right-hand pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez and two minor leaguers, apparently broke down after differences in compensation.

This is the third major trade the Padres have made in the last two months. In June, the Padres traded pitcher James Shields to the Chicago White Sox and closer Fernando Rodney to the Miami Marlins. In July, they sent pitcher Drew Drew Pomeranz to the Boston Red Sox.

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