Toronto Blue Jays willing to trade MLB ready position players for pitching
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The Toronto Blue Jays are open to trading MLB ready position players to get pitching going into a potential playoff race.
The Blue Jays are first in the American League East and clear buyers ahead of Thursday's deadline.
Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports that they are willing to trade from their position player depth, including guys who are currently on the big league roster or in Triple-A.
The Jays came into this year with a cluster of players on the roster who hadn't yet taken hold as big league regulars.
That group includes Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, Joey Loperfido, Will Wagner, Leo Jimenez, Jonatan Clase, Alan Roden and Orelvis Martinez.
Every player in that group apart from Martinez has seen some big league time this year, some more than others.
The Toronto Blue Jays have some regular position players returning from injury which creates a log jam of big league ready players whom they are willing to trade for pitching help
Amid the Toronto Blue Jays' search to add pitching ahead of Thursday's deadline, the team has indicated a willingness to trade big league position players, a league source said. - Mitch Bannon
With Andrés Giménez and Daulton Varsho set to return from injury next month writes Bannon, the Jays face an impending roster crunch. Outfielder Joey Loperfido and infielders Will Wagner and Leo Jimenez could be optioned to Triple-A to make room for the returning veterans.
Or, the Jays could dip into that MLB depth to fill pitching needs.
The Jays have plenty of outfield options beyond the big league roster, as well, with Jonatan Clase and Alan Roden in Triple A after seeing significant time with Toronto this year. With eight outfielders on the 40-man roster (and Anthony Santander on the 60-day IL), it's a clear area of depth for Toronto to draw on this week. - Mitch Bannon
The other players in that group have played smaller roles. Lukes has 257 plate appearances on the year but almost exclusively against righties, with just 28 of those coming against southpaws.
Loperfido has a huge .341/.396/.500 slash line this year but in just 16 games, as he was only just recalled from the minors a few weeks ago.
Wagner has a .236/.331/.302 line in 37 games, having also spent some time in the minors.
Jiménez was playing well in the minors but has a .071/.133/.179 line in the big leagues.
Those guys are all currently on the big league roster. As noted by Bannon, both Varsho and Andrés Giménez are expected to return from the injured list soon, which will push a couple of those guys back down to Triple-A.
The Jays are presumably evaluating various possibilities ahead of Thursday's deadline.
Bannon reported yesterday that the front office is «turning over every stone» in pursuit of bullpen additions. The Jays have also been connected to starting pitchers such as Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen and Mitch Keller.
Source: The Athletic
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 29 | 188 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays willing to trade MLB ready position players for pitching Do you think its a good idea for the Blue Jays to trade MLB ready position players at the MLB trade deadline for pitching? | ||
| Yes | 141 | 75 % |
| No | 47 | 25 % |
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