Toronto Blue Jays Trade Deadline Overview
By Nick Fustor
Where to Improve
The Bullpen
After acquiring Jason Grilli from the Atlanta Braves, there’s not one glaring need on the Blue Jays roster as they head into the summer. But acquiring a 39-year-old reliever like wasn’t the exact solution general manager Ross Atkins had in mind.
Adding one more reliable bullpen piece to complement Osuna and surprise standout Joe Biagini will likely be enough to shore up any concerns the Jays have going forward. With only one left-hander in the bullpen, it would make sense for Toronto to target another reliable southpaw.
Currently, the only lefty in the Jays bullpen is Aaron Loup, who is filling in for the injured Brett Cecil. While Cecil may have been able to handle the role as lefty specialist in season’s past, that hasn’t been the case this season.
Before he went on the disabled list on May 15, Cecil had pitched to a 5.23 ERA with a 3.81 FIP. While his FIP indicates Cecil should be better, his numbers are much worse than a season ago. Last season, Cecil finished with a 2.48 ERA and 11.60 K/9. Compare that to now, and he’s only striking out 7.84 batters per nine innings.
The Jays main bullpen priority will likely be a left-hander, but there’s always the chance they add another righty to the mix, too.
Next: Struggles Behind the Plate