The Toronto Blue Jays are urged to acquire a star pitcher from a division rival to solidify the rotation for the pennant race.
The Toronto Blue Jays have a clear need to add to their pitching staff ahead of the July 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline.
The Blue Jays are likely to add a rotation, and could even add a bullpen piece. Toronto could go after a legit No. 1 starter or a middle-of-the-arm starter, but MLB analyst Brad Wakai of SI urges Toronto to acquire Taj Bradley from division rival Tampa Bay Rays.
“Toronto should be thinking big. And there would be no bigger addition they could make than acquiring Taj Bradley from the Tampa Bay Rays,” Wakai wrote. “Once seen as an untouchable pitcher, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Rays 'are open for business' and 'are listening to offers' regarding the right-hander. That should be enough to get the Blue Jays on the phone.”
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Bradley would be a big part of the Blue Jays rotation as he isn’t even arbitration eligible, and is under team control for four more years after this one. So, it likely wouldn’t be cheap to acquire him, especially in an in-division trade, but Bradley would solidify the Blue Jays' rotation.
“With Bassitt set to hit free agency after the season and Gausman following behind him the year after, Toronto needs the next star arm in their rotation to pair with Berrios and some of the young pitchers coming up their pipeline,” Wakai added.
Bradley is 5-6 with a 4.60 ERA in 19 starts this season. The 24-year-old could be a future ace of the Blue Jays' rotation and a potential Game 1 starter for the playoffs.
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