Fantasy Fallout: A trade to Toronto both helps and hurts Melvin Upton Jr.'s fantasy value

Here are the fantasy repercussions following the San Diego Padres trading OF Melvin Upton Jr. to the Toronto Blue Jays for a Class A prospect:

Season Long Fantasy

Upton is having his best statistical season in quite some time. Never one to hit for a high average, moving to Atlanta in 2013 saw the bottom fall out when he hit .184 and .208 in his two seasons, effectively wiping out a lot of his fantasy value. Though he was good for the occasional home run and stolen base, the batting average was a killer.

A better season in 2015, his first in San Diego, still didn't make him much more than an afterthought going into 2016. He has proceeded to hit .256 with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs, 46 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. That's solid value in four categories without being a complete bust in the fifth all while playing a chunk of his games at pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

When the current series with the Blue Jays ends, Upton will stick around Toronto with his new team - and that presents some fantasy concern. The Blue Jays just got healthy when they activated OF Jose Bautista from the disabled list. With breakout OF Michael Saunders and defensive wizard Kevin Pillar cemented in the lineup, playing time could be at a premium.

If Upton is reduced to a super utility player used as a pinch hitter or runner, or as a fill in for rest and injury, a lack of playing time will cause him to lose value. If Toronto manager John Gibbons finds a way to get him in the lineup most days, he may see a reduction in his speed stats as the Blue Jays have only stolen 32 bases as a unit this season.

Upton has never played at a true hitters' park, though, and Rogers Centre is most certainly that. Should his playing time be regular, the power could surge even more and he will retain value. If his playing time lulls, or fellow owners believe it will, he could see his ownership drop and be available on waivers, making him a decent speculative add in case of injury or another trade.

Daily Fantasy

His playing time, at least initially, doesn't look set in stone, so it's best to wait until lineups are announced before locking him into place. While his speed seemingly makes him an ideal leadoff bat, Upton has never hit for a great average nor has he featured even a decent walk rate since 2008.

Upton has been hitting fourth and fifth in San Diego's lineup with the occasional bump to the leadoff spot. He will not be in the middle of Toronto's lineup. Chances are he bats in the bottom third if a leadoff experiment either doesn't work or never happens, which reduces opportunity and makes him less desirable in daily fantasy.

Depending on his salary, he could be worth a look when he plays just for the home run possibility. Don't forget about Upton, but don't get too excited yet.

Notes

• One player who could lose what little fantasy value he had left is 1B Justin Smoak. Only really owned in AL-only formats, Smoak has never fully lived up to his power potential. The Blue Jays like his defense at first base, but it's conceivable that he moves to the bench for Edwin Encarnacion to make room for oft-injured Bautista at DH.

• With Upton on the move it's worth monitoring Padres Triple-A OF Hunter Renfroe. Renfroe leads the Pacific Coast League with 25 home runs and is second in RBIs with 87 in 95 games played. He's hitting .331 and could see the jump with an open opportunity. He's worth a flier in deep leagues if he gets called up.