Indians invite Ogando and Upton to Major League camp

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent RHP Alexi Ogando and OF Melvin Uptin, Jr. to Minor League contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League spring training camp. 

Ogando, 34, owns a career record of 33-18 with a 3.47 ERA in 283 Major League appearances/48 starts across seven seasons with the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves from 2010-2016. The San Pedro de Macoris native debuted with the Rangers in 2010 following four years of visa issues after originally signing as an outfielder in the Oakland system (2002) and was selected by the Rangers in 2005 Minor League Rule V draft. He made 19 starts for Hanwha in the Korean Baseball League in 2017 and owns a career Postseason ERA of 2.37 in 18 relief appearances for the Rangers in 2010-11.

Upton, 33, owns a career Major League batting average of .243 (1260-5174) with 262 2B, 32 3B, 164 homers and 586 RBI in 1469 games over a 12-year career with Tampa Bay, Atlanta, San Diego and Toronto from 2004-16. He is one of six active players with four seasons of 20 HR/20 steals (Hanley Ramirez 5, Mike Trout 4, Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Ian Desmond), the last of which came in 2016 with Toronto and San Diego. He is sixth among active players in stolen bases (300) and has finished in the top 10 in the A.L. in steals five times in his career. He was limited to 12 games last season at the Triple-A level (San Francisco) due to right thumb and right shoulder injuries after being released by Toronto at the end of spring training.

Padres acquire RHP Hansel Rodriguez from Toronto in exchange for OF Melvin Upton Jr. and cash

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Hansel Rodriguez from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and cash considerations.   Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller made the announcement.

Rodriguez, 19, has gone 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA (11 ER, 32.1 IP) and 26 strikeouts against 11 walks with a .203 opponents batting average in six starts for the Rookie-Level Bluefield Blue Jays. The right-hander was originally signed by Toronto as an international free agent in January 2014 out of the Dominican Republic and made his professional debut in the Blue Jays organization that season. Over parts of three minor league seasons with the Blue Jays (2014-16), he has gone 3-6 with a 4.61 ERA (48 ER, 93.2 IP) and 76 strikeouts against 33 walks with a .252 opponents batting average in 25 total games, 19 starts.

Upton, 31, has hit .256 (88-for-344) with 11 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 45 RBI and 46 runs scored to go along with 20 stolen bases and a .743 OPS (.304 OBP, .439 SLG) in 92 games for the Padres this season. The outfielder was acquired by the Padres on April 5, 2015 from the Atlanta Braves as part of a six-player transaction. Originally signed by Tampa Bay as a first-round selection (second overall) in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .245 (1231-for-5027) with 258 doubles, 31 triples, 160 home runs, 570 RBI and 705 runs scored with 293 stolen bases in 1,412 career games played for Tampa Bay (2004, 2006-12), Atlanta (2013-14) and San Diego (2015-16).