Reports: Tigers To Do 'Due Diligence' On Melvin Upton Jr. After His Release
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) -- The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to announce the release of outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and the Detroit Tigers might be interested.
Tigers general manager Al Avila will do his "due diligence" to see if signing the 32-year-old brother of Detroit outfielder Justin Upton, according to multiple reports.
Upton Jr. is expected to clear waivers, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Upton Jr. — formerly known as B.J. Upton — split time between the Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres last season, batting .238 with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. He also added 27 stolen bases.
The Upton brothers played together with the Atlanta Braves in 2013 and 2014 and with the Padres in 2015. Upton Jr. is due to make about $16.5 million this season — the last year of a five-year, $72.5 million contract he signed with the Braves in 2013.