MLB Trade Rumours: Could the Blue Jays Be Part of a 3-Team BJ Upton Deal?

The MLB trade deadline is approaching and there hasn't been much talk about what the Toronto Blue Jays could be doing yet.  

There has been some speculative talk about the Jays dealing one or more of their veteran relievers, but very little about what the team could be looking for in return.

ESPN's Jayson Stark reports that there might have been some developments in the Toronto trade front this weekend, and it could involve the Tampa Bay Rays.

B.J. Upton has been circulating the rumour mill often for the last few weeks, and the possible suitors for the center fielder remain broad with no real front runners.

But as Stark reports, the Jays and the Rays have been scouting each others' farm systems recently, and one scout suggests that the Jays could be the middle man in dealing Upton to a National League team.  

The Rays have been getting the most calls from the Nationals, Braves, Pirates, Reds and Cardinals, but other teams have inquired as well.

An inquiring team might not have the prospects or relievers that the Rays might be looking for in a trade for Upton, but the Jays do.

So if the Jays were to send a package of one major league reliever and one or two prospects to the Rays in exchange for Upton, and then continue on to dish him to a National League team they could avoid any of their rival American League teams getting their hands on him.

This of course is completely speculative, and what the Blue Jays would receive in return is undetermined.  

At the Major League level the Blue Jays are lacking in young relief talent that could fill the closer role of the future.  This is a definite concern when the Blue Jays have blown 17 saves in 37 opportunities this year, which is tied for first in the American League with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Heath Bell of the San Diego Padres is definitely on the market, but seems more suited to a contender that needs a little extra security in the late innings.  

Leo Nunez, who has 28 saves and a 3.47 ERA, could be on the block for the Florida Marlins, who are 16 games back from Philadelphia in the Eastern Division.  But what would a team with a low payroll and no chance of competing this year want with a player like Upton?

Another little tidbit came from Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman, who mentioned through twitter that the Blue Jays were one of the teams scouting Ubaldo Jimenez's latest start.  

Jimenez seems unlikely to be dealt, as Colorado just seems to be contemplating what they could get for the ace, just as Arizona did with Justin Upton over the winter.

Jimenez hasn't had the astounding season that he had last year, but he is still pitching well enough to add value to any rotation.  He is also on a budget friendly contract of $10 million per year until 2012 with team options in 2013 and 2014.  

If the Jays are to deal any of their veteran relief talent, it will be for more prospects to stock their already strong system.  

The prospects would also have to be more interesting to the team than the possible draft picks they could receive in compensation if any of the relievers were to leave in free agency.