Notions around Major League Baseball hint GM A.J. Preller is already calling his busy offseason a failure and is looking to blow up his roster for an embrace of 2016 and beyond. One team being linked as prospective buyers of San Diego’s resources are the Toronto Blue Jays.
While many Blue Jays fans want to see a package deal made with the Reds for Johnny Cueto shoring up the rotation and Aroldis Chapman improving the bullpen, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi believes the club will be looking to acquire a starter with club control beyond this season.
"“The San Diego Padres, should they look to refashion themselves as significantly as the whispers suggest, might fit the mould there, with a mix of potential free agents like Ian Kennedy and Joaquin Benoit, plus starters like Andrew Cashner, with one season of control after this year, or Tyson Ross, with two more years of control.”"
Davidi goes on to insist that teams looking to be buyers before the trade deadline will heed caution from Oakland’s model last year of renting three starting pitchers, none of which returned to the team in 2015 and failed to net the club a single postseason victory.
The Blue Jays need to do something. Their offense is deep and talented, but they don’t have a hope of winning enough games to make the postseason unless they become more stable from the pitcher’s mound.
Drew Hutchison has been erratic all season, as has R.A. Dickey, though he’s been able to work deeper into ball games. Mark Buehrle has been the only starter who has regularly impressed from within the rotation. Marco Estrada has had his share of strong outings as well, but his track record suggests he’s nothing more than a No. 4 starter at best.
Aaron Sanchez was just beginning to find a groove as a starter before getting injured in early June. Over his final four starts, he logged 28 innings of work and went 2-1 while posting a 2.57 ERA. Regrettably, the organization thinks he can be more effective out of the bullpen for the remainder of this season. In order for that move to happen, the Jays need to acquire another starter or two.
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The crux of Toronto’s problem is that Davidi says most potential trade partners the Jays contact are asking for Marcus Stroman in return for their assets. Stroman likely will not pitch this year, but he still holds massive potential as soon as 2016 comes around. His injury is not related to his throwing mechanics or upper body. Stroman also has a handful of Major League level pitches in his arsenal and is under club control through 2020, so it goes without say that the Blue Jays are reluctant to move him.
While it remains to be seen which of the Padres’ starters the Toronto Blue Jays are most interested in, it’s clear that any combination of Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross or possibly James Shields would provide the club with some flexibility to shuffle the bullpen around and get some quality starts down the stretch. Toronto would also be foolish to not inquire about packaging someone like Joaquin Benoit in a transaction as well.
Working out something with the Reds is still an option, but remember, Cueto will likely sign elsewhere in the offseason beyond 2015. He might have the most upside right away, but looking to California’s Southwest Coast for a trade partner could pay bigger dividends long-term. The Blue Jays have a number of everyday players still under contract or carrying an option for 2016, so there’s no reason the club can’t contend this year and next with the right move coming to fruition.