Toronto Blue Jays: 3 players they should have traded for at the trade deadline

The Toronto Blue Jays currently have the first AL Wild Card spot but, entering Friday, there are five more teams that are within five games of the first AL Wild Card spot.

A slip-up of a week or so and the Blue Jays could be in a world of hurt. Fortunately, the Jays made some moves at the trade deadline to help their team, including acquiring starting pitcher Mitch White from the Dodgers and infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield from the Royals. But the Jays could have done a bit more.

Here are three moves the Blue Jays will regret not trading for at the trade deadline.

Toronto Blue Jays: 3 players they should have traded for at the trade deadline

1) Outfielder David Peralta

One area that the Blue Jays did not address was that they are extremely right-handed heavy. With George Springer hitting the injured list (yet again), the club has been utilizing Whit Merrifield in the outfield, instead of second base, which is another weakness of the team and his best position. And Merrifield is yet another right-handed hitter. David Peralta would have addressed their outfield concern/depth or help as a DH and provided them with a left-handed bat.

Peralta was with the D-Backs but they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays, who have the final AL Wild Card spot. In 95 games in 2022, Peralta has hit .254/.315/.450 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 doubles, and an OPS+ of 116.

He was good defensively for the D-Backs (4 Defensive Runs Saved) but surprisingly, he has struggled with Tampa. In six games with them, he already has -4 DRS. However, he still has 4 Outs Above Average (OAA).