Toronto Blue Jays acquire Jesse Chavez from Oakland Athletics

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired pitcher Jesse Chavez from the Oakland Athletics, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

Chavez is the second pitcher Toronto has added to the 2016 rotation this week, as they also re-signed Marco Estrada to a two-year deal. While the 32-year-old will be a downgrade from likely-departing David Price, he comes to the Blue Jays with a healthy body of work over the last two seasons.

With Rich Hill now in the fold, Chavez was a luxury fifth starter for the rebuilding Athletics, who also have Sonny Gray, Kendall Graveman, Chris Bassitt, Aaron Brooks, Sean Manaea, Sean Nolin and a recovering Jarrod Parker to turn for five rotation spots. Moving Chavez out of the rotation allows another of that young group to potentially see a full season of starts, which will also help expedite the rebuilding process as Oakland looks to usher in a new young core.

The Blue Jays still lack a top-of-the-rotation option entering 2016, with Chavez, Estrada, R.A. Dickey and Drew Hutchison all offering quality mid-tier rotation options. Marcus Stroman enters 2016 as an unknown, as he pitched dominantly in four starts this year but missed most of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. While it seems unlikely that Price will return to Toronto, or that other top-tier options will be going north of the border, the Blue Jays could look at a second-level option like Jordan Zimmermann to lead the rotation going forward and help repeat the success of 2015.

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Oakland will receive Liam Hendriks in the deal, who pitched to a 2.92 ERA in 64.2 innings of relief for Toronto in 2015. After struggling as a starter for most of his career, the 26-year-old found his niche in middle relief last year, and will bolster the Athletics bullpen while giving the club four years of control. It’s unknown whether the A’s will receive anything else in the trade.