The Toronto Blue Jays are the hottest team in Major League Baseball, winning 10 consecutive games and boasting a three-and-a-half game lead over the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.
Toronto was just six games above .500 before their 10-game winning-streak and three-and-a-half games back from the Yankees.
Despite this scorching hot stretch, Toronto will need pitching upgrades to sustain success and have a deep playoff run.
Former MLB executive Jim Bowden answered 25 trade deadline questions with just three weeks to go, including a question about the Blue Jays acquiring a starting pitcher.
“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,” wrote Bowden. “I particularly like the fit of Merrill Kelly, Mitch Keller or Jeffrey Springs with Toronto.”
The best option for the Blue Jays is definitely Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he won’t be the cheapest.
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Keller, 29, is 3-10 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 19 starts this season. His record is a testament to the Pirates offering little to no run support for their pitchers (Paul Skenes is 4-7 with a 1.94 ERA).
Keller was an All-Star in 2023 and has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball for several years.
A move for Keller would be expensive, though, given that Keller is on a team-friendly contract with multiple years of control.
Kelly and Springs would be solid, cheaper options, but if the Blue Jays are serious and want to go all-in, trading for Keller is their best bet.
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