Trade Deadline Preview: Toronto Blue Jays
Jun 23, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Adam Lind (26) celebrates their victory with first baseman Edwin Encarnacion (10) and pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Following the the mega-blockbuster trade consummated by the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins in November 2012, the Jays became a sexy pick to contend for the AL East crown during the 2013 season. The deal, sent Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonifacio, and John Buck north; with Yunel Escobar, Adeiny Hechevarria, Henderson Alvarez, Jeff Mathis, Justin Nicolino, Anthony Desclafani, and Jake Marisnick heading to South Beach. The Marlins became a joke, and the Blue Jays looked to become a powerhouse. The success for the Jays didn’t come, as their assembly of talent (Which also included Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, and disgraced outfielder Melky Cabrera) never gelled.
They lost 88 games, due in large part to a myriad of injuries and inconsistent play, good enough for dead last in the AL East. The 2014 season though, has been a much different story. The Blue Jays sit perched atop a mediocre division, sitting one game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles. They were neck and neck at one point with the Oakland Athletics for the best record in the AL, but have slipped a little recently. The mini-slide may encourage the Jays to make another impactful trade to help nail down their first postseason berth since 1993.
Jun 14, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie (13) hits a rbi single in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeats the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
By acquiring the sheer quantity of talent the Blue Jays did in the offseason of 2012-’13, to go along with the nucleus of talent they had in place already, there weren’t many holes in the roster on paper. The holes they do have though, can very easily be filled – that is if the team wants to, and they do have the means to do so.
1. Starting Pitching
Mark Buehrle is having a very strong season, despite some recent hiccups, R.A. Dickey has never recaptured his Cy Young form in Toronto, Drew Hutchinson has been solid but lacks experience, behind them sits J.A. Happ, and the talented youngster Marcus Stroman. Happ is clearly the weak link in this rotation, and likely can’t be trusted to pitch meaningful games for the Jays down the stretch. This is likely the team’s most pressing need.
2. Second Base
The versatility of Brett Lawrie creates options for the Blue Jays brass as they delve into the trade market. Lawrie is on the 15 day DL currently, after suffering a fractured index finger after being hit by a pitch, but upon his return he should pick up where he left off in his productive 2014 campaign. With the likes of Steve Tolleson and Munenori Kawasaki manning second base for the time being, it’s clear that an upgrade may very well be in order.
3. Third Base
This is where Lawrie’s versatility comes into play. If the Blue Jays find a more suitable trade partner to get a third baseman, they have the freedom to do so. It’s unclear though which position may be more realistic as far as available upgrades are concerned. There is no doubt though, the Blue Jays indeed have options.
May 6, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Marcus Stroman (54) throws a pitch in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies, 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
What makes the Blue Jays such an intriguing buyer on the market is the wealth of prospects the team has in order to make a deal happen. They have young, MLB talent, as well as a number of quality prospects in the pipeline that could all be moved in order to entice a team to send their top trade chips north of the border.
The prized prospect in the Blue Jays system, a talented hurler with a fastball in the high 90’s who figures to slot in at or near the top of a MLB rotation in the coming years. Sanchez would likely only be dealt if a major impact player were coming in return.
2. Marcus Stroman
Moving a part of the current MLB starting rotation may be a tough pill to swallow for the Blue Jays, but it’s entirely possible it may be necessary in order to get a major deal done. Stroman has pitched to a 4.01 ERA in 42.2 innings, but his 3.40 FIP indicates he’s been more effective. He’s proven, albeit in a small sample, that he can pitch effectively against MLB hitters, and that may prove more valuable than the high risk/high reward of Sanchez.
3. Anthony Gose
Gose has long been featured in trade rumors involving the Blue Jays, but they have never pulled the trigger, hesitating to deal the speedy outfielder. Gose, though, is a fourth outfielder on the current Blue Jays roster. He hasn’t torn up the American League, posting a .238/.344/.295 line in 125 plate appearances, but his OBP is impressive enough to indicate he may just need more playing time to get comfortable.
Jun 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley (7) hits a single during the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The strong first half, and the mediocrity of the AL East, has put the Blue Jays in a position to acquire the pieces they may need to push themselves over the hump. They have very few holes to fill, but could choose to fill them with some of the more high profile names available. The advantage they have is that they want to win now, and they have the pieces that may be necessary to make a huge move. So who might they target?
1. David Price
It’s questionable whether the Rays would be willing to move Price to a division rival, or perhaps anywhere if their improved play of late continues. The cost of acquiring Price will undoubtedly be heavy, regardless of where he goes, but the Blue Jays have the means to potentially overpay for him if necessary.
The Cubs are aimed squarely at the future, and it’s no secret that they wish to move Samardzija. They made a killing last year by moving the top starting pitcher on the market in Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers, netting third baseman Mike Olt, and pitchers C.J. Edwards, and Justin Grimm. They hope to duplicate that success, and then some in any deal this season. Either Samardzija or Price would help the Blue Jays not only make the playoffs, but potentially play deep into October.
The Blue Jays were said to be in talks with the Padres about Headley very recently, according to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego UT. Headley hasn’t returned to his tremendous 2012 form, and many injuries may be to blame for that. Headley has battled back problems, and a calf issue this season, which seems to have sapped his power. He’s hit just .201/.287/.320 in 247 plate appearances this season, playing in the spacious Petco Park, as he has for his entire career. Headley may not represent a huge upgrade over in-house options, but he may come relatively cheap considering his play this year. The Padres may seek to simply get something for Headley, rather than nothing if he leaves via free agency after this season.