Melvin Upton Jr., Giants Reportedly Agree to Minor League Contract

Melvin Upton Jr. will get a chance at a fresh start after signing with the San Francisco Giants.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand first reported Upton would sign with the Giants on Saturday. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported Upton received a minor league deal from San Francisco.

The Toronto Blue Jays released Upton at the end of spring training after he posted a .194 batting average in 14 games.

The Blue Jays acquired the outfielder in a trade with the San Diego Padres shortly before the deadline last July. Upton had batted .256 with 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases before the deal, with an OPS of .743 that was higher than his career mark (.723).

Unfortunately for Toronto, he struggled mightily in his return to the American League, batting just .196 with four home runs and a .578 OPS.

According to Baseball Reference, his WAR through 57 games with the Blue Jays was minus-0.4.

He did hit a home run in the American League Division Series, but he ended his postseason batting 2-for-11 and mostly coming off the bench.

Buster Olney of ESPN reported the team was looking at alternative options to the 32-year-old during the spring, and Upton was eventually released.

He is still set to make more than $16 million in 2017, although the Padres will pay most of that.

The Giants will hope the raw talent will once again shine through. The 12-year veteran has an excellent combination of power and speed, reaching at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season four different times in his career.

Outfield depth is a problem for the Giants, who are starting Jarrett Parker in left field and Denard Span in center field. Parker posted a solid .358 on-base percentage last season, but he only played in 84 games in 2015 and 2016 combined. 

Upton still has the ability to play center field, though he also showed last season with the Blue Jays he was willing to play in a corner spot. He gives the Giants more versatility in the outfield if he makes the 25-man roster after starting in the minors.