Toronto Blue Jays MLB trade deadline objectives
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If the Toronto Blue Jays continue to separate themselves from .500, there's no question adds will come at the deadline. Just how big or how many remain to be seen.
We've seen two forms of buying deadlines from Toronto's front office, the conservative and the major.
At the 2021 deadline, a big push brought in José Berrios and many needed relievers. Lately, it's been conseverative buys such as Jordan Hicks and Paul DeJong joining in 2023 and Whit Merrifield and Anthony Bass acquired in 2022.
The outcomes on the field will help dictate that path. If the Jays keep rattling off series wins, hang around with the division-leading Yankees and look like real candidates for a deep October push, big additions could join.
If the trade deadline were today, Toronto's priority would be obvious: starting pitching.
The Jays have used 11 starting pitchers this year, with bullpen games and Bowden Francis' recent struggles holding back the staff.
Toronto is 25-16 with Berrios, Bassitt or Kevin Gausman starting and 13-14 with anybody else.
Though Max Scherzer crawls closer to an MLB return and Alek Manoah faced live hitting for the first time since surgery, Toronto's pitching need is clear.
Even if the rotation settles into a stable five-man mix, we've seen the Jays acquire some sort of starting depth at almost every buying deadline, ranging from Mitch White to Berrios.
There should be rotation options available at the deadline, with pending free agents Zach Gallen, Zach Eflin, Tyler Mahle, Andrew Heaney and Mitch Keller all playing for clubs at or under .500.
Depth options like Cal Quantrill and Patrick Corbin could stabilize a fifth rotation spot, too. The Athletic's Jim Bowden recently identified Merrill Kelly as his favorite Toronto target at this year's deadline.
The real storyline to monitor is what needs pop up beyond starting pitching. Toronto's bullpen depth has held strong all season, but there's always room for another leverage reliever.
The team's lineup entered Wednesday's contest with the ninth-best OPS and wRC+ in the sport. The Jays will get Garcia back in the bullpen and Anthony Santander and Daulton Varsho in the outfield, too.
If no new needs emerge, the Jays will have the luxury of pushing all deadline resources toward the rotation.
But, with seven weeks before the trade freeze, there's time for injuries or slipping performances to expose new needs.
What aspect of the team do you think the Blue Jays need to improve on at the MLB trade deadline?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 13 | 157 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays MLB trade deadline objectives What aspect of the team do you think the Blue Jays need to improve on at the MLB trade deadline? | ||
| Starting Pitching | 82 | 52.2 % |
| Offense | 6 | 3.8 % |
| Bullpen | 15 | 9.6 % |
| All of the above | 54 | 34.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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