Blue Jays Rumors: Angels Mark Trumbo a Fit in Toronto?
By Editorial Staff
Mark Trumbo would be a “great fit” for the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. It’s been rumored that the Los Angeles Angels are targeting relievers, but Morosi doubts the Blue Jays would part with a bullpen arm in exchange for Trumbo with closer Sergio Santos currently on the disabled list.
Do the Blue Jays really need more offense? Blue Jays General manager Alex Anthopoulos has hinted that he’d like to add an impact bat. However, Toronto’s conservative free agent policy means that any players of significance will likely have to be acquired through trade and not an offseason signing.
While the Blue Jays have scored the sixth most runs in the majors, they are 14th and 15th in the league in on base percentage (.314) and OPS (.716). This would indicate that the club could use an additional bat like Trumbo’s. On the year Trumbo has hit at a clip of .283/.338/.500 for the Angels.
The problem becomes where would Trumbo play if the Blue Jays acquired him?
It’s safe to say that no one’s replacing Edwin Encarnacion as Toronto’s regular designated hitter anytime soon. Trumbo’s other potential positions are first and third base and left field. Brett Lawrie (third) and Eric Thames (left field) are two up-and-comers that are producing fairly well for the Blue Jays. It would be hard to imagine Toronto replacing either with Trumbo on a regular basis.
Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind hasn’t been good this year, but are the Blue Jays really going to give up on the 28-year-old? Despite the fact that Lind’s only posted an OPS of .577 over his first 24 games this season, the slugger did tally 84 home runs, 94 doubles and 273 RBIs from 2009-11.
Toronto could platoon the right-handed hitting Trumbo (.948 OPS vs. lefties) at first with the left-handed Lind (.310 OPS vs. lefties), while finding other playing opportunities for him at his other potential positions. It’s just hard to see the Blue Jays trading a piece from a bullpen that’s posted one of the league’s worst ERA’s (4.46) for a player that’s not a clear fit.
Do you think Trumbo makes sense for the Blue Jays?
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