Key Takeaways
- The Toronto Blue Jays are currently the hottest team in baseball, winning eight consecutive games.
- The Jays now sit atop the American League East and look like a legitimate contender.
- Toronto must take advantage of the trade deadline and acquire a starting pitcher for their inconsistent rotation.
George Springer celebrating (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching on July 31. While some teams will be sellers, others will decide to go all-in to be a contender this October in the pursuit of a World Series title. One of those ball clubs must be the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Jays are easily the hottest team in the big leagues right now, winning eight in a row. First, they swept the New York Yankees for the first time ever at home last week before taking three more from the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. John Schneider’s group now sits atop the always competitive American League East, three games in front of the Bronx Bombers, who are also a dangerous team.
While Toronto hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016, this roster has lots of experience. But, they’re by no means a finished product, either. The Blue Jays missed the postseason last fall and remain hungry to play meaningful games in October again. That being said, the trade deadline is the perfect opportunity for Toronto to improve.
Offensively, this organization has played very well. They rank 11th in runs scored, fourth in team average, and sixth in hits. Across the board, all of their main guys are producing. Alejandro Kirk is hitting over .300 while George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and Bo Bichette aren’t far behind him. Sure, Guerrero and Bichette aren’t hitting with as much power as in past years, but it’s also only a matter of time until that changes, especially when it comes to Guerrero, who won the Home Run Derby only a couple of years ago.
On the mound, however, is where the Blue Jays can go out and improve. They have a 4.22 ERA as a staff, which ranks 22nd in the Majors. The rotation, in particular, has struggled, posting a 4.63 ERA. Thankfully, there could be a plethora of arms available by July 31, and Toronto should be making calls to inquire.
No Shortage of Options For Blue Jays
Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and Jose Berrios are all established starters at the MLB level. But Berrios is the only one throwing the ball with any consistency this season. Max Scherzer, meanwhile, just returned from the IL and has looked shaky. Don’t get me wrong – all four of these guys are capable of performing in the postseason, but even just adding another experienced arm to the rotation could be beneficial.
The Arizona Diamondbacks remain in the NL Wild Card race, but there’s a legitimate chance they become sellers at the deadline. That could mean Zac Gallen and/or Merrill Kelly may be available. Gallen is having a nightmare season with a 5.45 ERA, but he’s proven to be effective in the past. A fresh start could be beneficial. As for Kelly, he’s been Arizona’s top starter this year, and honestly, the righty flies under the radar as one of the best starting pitchers in the sport. Both of them have playoff experience as well. Of course, Kelly would be the top choice, but Gallen isn’t exactly a bad option, either.
Another possible arm could be Freddy Peralta. The Milwaukee Brewers ace is making just $8 million this season, yet he’s one of the best around. The Brew Crew traded Josh Hader mid-way through the 2022 season, and it backfired, missing the playoffs that year. Milwaukee probably won’t be looking to make that same mistake, but the trade buzz continues to surround Peralta. He also has a team option worth $8 million in 2026. Considering how good of a pitcher he is, this would be a cheap option for the Blue Jays.
If Toronto wanted to add a left-hander to its rotation, there are options as well. Tyler Anderson has struggled for most of the year, but he improved in June. The Los Angeles Angels remain in the Wild Card race, but they’re not exactly going to be a contender. While Anderson may not throw hard, he keeps hitters off-balance and throws strikes. The southpaw is a bit more expensive, though, as he’s making $13 million per season before becoming a free agent in 2026.
Starting pitching must be a priority for the Jays if they’re finally going to make it past the Wild Card round. It’s time for the front office to do business this month.
