Toronto Blue Jays: Three trade fits for Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 16: Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (13) receives high-fives in the dugout after Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) (not pictured) hits a three run homer in the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays on June 16, 2019, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. (Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 16: Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (13) receives high-fives in the dugout after Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) (not pictured) hits a three run homer in the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays on June 16, 2019, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. (Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
(Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)

Gurriel to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tony Gonsolin

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The Los Angeles Dodgers love bats with positional versatility. The fact that Gurriel has this may help pry away one of their better pitching prospects for the Toronto Blue Jays. For the Dodgers, Gurriel gives them another option at multiple positions as they mull over what to potentially do with players like Corey Seager and Justin Turner. The Dodgers have plenty of rotation options and could dive into the robust free-agent starting pitching pool to help add to their depth.

For the Toronto Blue Jays, Gonsolin can slide right into their rotation next season. The Jays won’t switch him between the bullpen and the rotation, or, between the majors and the minors. they can leave him in the rotation all season long and let him develop.

The Toronto Blue Jays have assembled a great core of young position players. What they don’t quite have yet is the pitching to match. They could choose to go into the free-agent market and outbid other clubs to move arms to Canada. They could also use that position player depth, like Gurriel to add to their pitching staff.

These three deals are examples of the return that the Toronto Blue Jays would want for Gurriel? Are they perfect? No. Could they happen? Maybe. That’s what the hot stove season is about. Rumors and random trades no one saw coming. Maybe a Gurriel deal will be an example of that. Welcome to Hot Stove season.