Blue Jays add Third Starter in Ross Stripling Trade

The Toronto Blue Jays have added a third starting pitcher at the trade deadline, acquiring Ross Stripling from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Toronto Blue Jays added another starting pitcher ahead of the MLB trade deadline, completing a deal to acquire Ross Stripling from the Dodgers for two Players To Be Named Later.

This move was first announced simultaneously on the Blue Jays and Dodgers team Twitter accounts. Both clubs announced at 5 pm ET, just an hour following the official 4 pm ET deadline.

Through a collection of moves in the days leading up to the deadline, the Blue Jays have shown the rest of the league their ambitions to contend in 2020. Toronto has now added three starting pitchers at the deadline, including Robbie Ray earlier today and Taijuan Walker on Friday.

The Blue Jays didn’t stop at bolstering their starting rotation. According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, Toronto also acquired DH Daniel Vogelbach from the Seattle Mariners for cash, and infielder Jonthan Villar from the Miami Marlins for a Player To Be Named Later.

As previously explained by Call to the Pen’s Nick Stevens, Toronto sits at 18-14, placing them 4.5 games out of first in the AL East and only one game from a Wild Card spot.

Stripling, a right-hander, is 3-1 with a 5.61 ERA this season, however, the 2018 All-Star adds important depth to the Blue Jays rotation. During his five years with the Dodgers, Stripling owns a career-ERA of 3.68.

His best season came in 2018 when he was named an NL All-Star. During this All-Star campaign, Stripling went 8-6 in 21 starts, throwing a stifling 3.02 ERA in 122 innings.

This leaves the World Series favorites, Los Angeles, down a starting pitcher. Stripling was not initially slated for the Dodgers 2020 rotation, however, earned himself a spot after David Price opted out.

It’s unclear if LA will utilize a four-man rotation until the playoffs, however, the best team in baseball has some wiggle room in their remaining 24 games. The Dodgers are 26-10 and own a league-best 2.76 ERA.