NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Padres addressed one of their needs Tuesday morning, as they acquired outfielder Jon Jay from the Cardinals for infielder Jedd Gyorko and cash considerations.The Padres will send roughly $7.5 million to the Cardinals in the deal, according to a source.
Jay, 30, can play all three outfield positions, but he has spent most of his time in the big leagues as a center fielder.The Padres entered the offseason looking for a left-handed bat for the outfield -- preferably left field.They have that in Jay, though he could end up as part of a platoon in center field with Melvin Upton Jr. 
The rest of the offseason -- if the Padres acquire another outfielder -- will determine which position he will play.The Padres were looking for balance for their predominantly right-handed lineup. As a team, they ranked 28th in baseball in 2015 in batting average against right-handed pitchers (.244) and last in on-base percentage (.299).Jay, who will make $6.85 million this upcoming season, will be a free agent after 2016.Jay is a career .287/.354/.384 hitter in parts of six seasons with the Cardinals. He was limited to 79 games last season because of a left wrist injury. He landed on the disabled list in May with tendinitis of his left wrist -- the same wrist he had surgery on after the 2014 season.Gyorko, a homegrown player who was drafted by the team in the second round of the 2010 Draft, had a .236/.293/.395 slash line in parts of three seasons with the Padres, hitting 49 home runs.Gyorko signed a six-year, $35 million deal with the Padres in April 2014, a deal which came on the heels of a promising rookie season. He hit 23 home runs in 2013 and finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year Award vote.Gyorko struggled at the outset of this past season and was optioned to the Minor Leagues in June, returning three weeks later. A second baseman by trade, Gyorko played 29 games at shortstop in the second half last season.By dealing Gyorko, the Padres get significant salary relief. He was still owed $32 million on a six-year deal he signed in April 2014.
Corey Brock/ MLB.com
The rest of the offseason -- if the Padres acquire another outfielder -- will determine which position he will play.The Padres were looking for balance for their predominantly right-handed lineup. As a team, they ranked 28th in baseball in 2015 in batting average against right-handed pitchers (.244) and last in on-base percentage (.299).Jay, who will make $6.85 million this upcoming season, will be a free agent after 2016.Jay is a career .287/.354/.384 hitter in parts of six seasons with the Cardinals. He was limited to 79 games last season because of a left wrist injury. He landed on the disabled list in May with tendinitis of his left wrist -- the same wrist he had surgery on after the 2014 season.Gyorko, a homegrown player who was drafted by the team in the second round of the 2010 Draft, had a .236/.293/.395 slash line in parts of three seasons with the Padres, hitting 49 home runs.Gyorko signed a six-year, $35 million deal with the Padres in April 2014, a deal which came on the heels of a promising rookie season. He hit 23 home runs in 2013 and finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year Award vote.Gyorko struggled at the outset of this past season and was optioned to the Minor Leagues in June, returning three weeks later. A second baseman by trade, Gyorko played 29 games at shortstop in the second half last season.By dealing Gyorko, the Padres get significant salary relief. He was still owed $32 million on a six-year deal he signed in April 2014.
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