Toronto Blue Jays: Luis Castillo, 2 others that they should have traded for

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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).

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 02: Jake Diekman #55 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 2, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

2) Left-handed reliever Jake Diekman

The Red Sox were both in and out at the trade deadline and one of the players they traded away was reliever Jake Diekman … to another team that is currently on the outside looking in in the Toronto Blue Jays. He would address yet another handed issue for the Blue Jays: they have no left-handed relievers.

On the season, Diekman, 35, has made 49 appearances with a 4.22 ERA (102 ERA+). He is striking out 12 batters per nine innings. His walk rate is too high (6.8 BB/9) but in his last 10 appearances (nine innings), he has walked four batters, which is a much more palatable number.

Lefties are also only hitting .193 with a .664 OPS against him this year. The Blue Jays’ bullpen has a slash line against them of .238/.297/.391 against lefties. That is 19th, 6th, and 13th best in the sport. Especially in the average and slugging percentage department, they could use some help and Diekman could have helped them out there.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 09: Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park on August 09, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

3) Starting pitcher Luis Castillo

The Blue Jays have a very weird starting rotation. Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman each have an ERA below 3.00. But José Berríos and Yusei Kikuchi each have an ERA north of 5.00. Ross Stripling has pitched well (3.16 ERA) but he’s on the IL. Hyun-jin Ryu is also done for the year. Mitch White should help in that department but the Blue Jays will regret not having the quality rotation depth in the playoffs. Luis Castillo would have provided that.

Castillo was traded from the Reds to the Seattle Mariners, who have the second Wild Card spot right now. So if the season ended today, the Jays would face Castillo and the Mariners in the Wild Card series. He will also be there next year.

On the season, Castillo has made 16 starts and he has a 2.71 ERA and he’s averaging more than six innings per start, which is a rarity in today’s era. The 2022 All-Star had a 165 ERA+, a 3.17 FIP, a 1.043 WHIP, and an average of 3.0 walks and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. He has also faced the Yankees (the Jays’ division rival) in three of his last four starts (one with Cincinnati and two with Seattle) and he was fantastic.

7/14: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 8 K
8/3 (first start with Seattle)): 6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, 3 BB, 8 K
8/9: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Worst of all for the Toronto Blue Jays, Castillo isn’t a free agent until after the 2023 season so he could hurt the Blue Jays in the playoffs this year and in the regular season and postseason next year.

Next. 3 winners and 3 losers at the MLB Trade Deadline. dark

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