The Toronto Blue Jays recently went on a 10-game winning streak and took over first place in the American League East. They are now 2 1/2 games up on the slumping New York Yankees.
There will be areas of the roster that need attention at the trade deadline. More specifically, they need a starting pitcher to boost their rotation.
Fortunately, there will be plenty of arms on the move in the coming weeks, and Toronto will have a few options to choose from.
When answering a question about the trade deadline, Jim Bowden of The Athletic listed Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs as a possible fit for Toronto.
“The Blue Jays’ front office has made it clear to opposing GMs that starting pitching is their priority at the trade deadline and they are kicking the tires on all the starters that could get moved this July. I particularly like the fit of Merrill Kelly, Mitch Keller or Jeffrey Springs with Toronto,” Bowden wrote.
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Springs is putting together a strong season with the Athletics. He is 7-6 in 17 starts and two relief appearances with a 3.92 ERA. He also has pitched 103 1/3 innings.
The 32-year-old is signed through at least 2026 and has a club option for 2027. His contract status could make him an attractive trade piece for the Blue Jays.
While not a frontline starter, Springs can fill innings and pitch in both starting and relief roles, and having an arm with a few years of club control would be most beneficial for Toronto.
The Blue Jays will need to upgrade their rotation if they want to continue to separate themselves from the Yankees. Springs could certainly help with that.
We’ll see how Toronto goes about upgrading at the deadline.
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