Report: Blue Jays talking with Padres about Cashner, Upton

The Toronto Blue Jays are battling the Baltimore Orioles in the standings and trade market, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, who reports the AL East rivals are among the clubs discussing a trade for Padres outfielder Melvin Upton Jr.

Toronto is also reported to have held dialogue with San Diego regarding Andrew Cashner, the right-handed starter who pitched well in front of Blue Jays scouts Thursday in St. Louis. It's unclear if Toronto's interest in Cashner hinges on its ability to acquire Upton, as well.

The Padres are trying to leverage their negotiations with the Blue Jays and Orioles against each other in an effort to land a better return for Upton, Rosenthal notes. On Friday, it was reported the division-leading Orioles are discussing a trade with the Padres that would see them acquire Upton in exchange for Ubaldo Jimenez. A deal is not believed to be imminent, however, because of San Diego's insistence in receiving a prospect as well.

Upton's surprising production at the plate this season has caught the attention of several teams looking to find value in a weak trade market. Through 91 games, the center fielder is hitting .259/.307/.444 with 16 homers (his most since 2012) and 20 stolen bases.

Earlier Friday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported the Padres had been telling teams they're close to dealing the 31-year-old outfielder, who's owned nearly $32 million over the next two seasons. The Cleveland Indians are also among the teams reportedly discussing a possible Upton trade, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.