The Toronto Blue Jays have slowly but surely chased the New York Yankees down in the American League East. Through 74 games, the Blue Jays are just three games back of the division lead.
They’re in the perfect position to buy at the trade deadline, and acquiring a starting pitcher would be a tremendous move for them to make in the coming weeks.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently predicted the Blue Jays would acquire Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for LHP Kendry Rojas and 2B Sam Shaw.
“The Blue Jays are focused on acquiring a starting pitcher before the trade deadline and the veteran righty would be a good fit for them,” Bowden wrote. “Kelly, 36, is 6-3 with a 3.41 ERA over 15 starts and will be eligible for free agency at season’s end.
“He went to high school and college in Arizona and would like to finish his career as a Diamondback. However, if the D-Backs fall out of the National League wild-card race, perhaps they’d trade him as a rental for two solid prospects and then look to re-sign him in the offseason.”
With Corbin Burnes on the shelf for the season, the Diamondbacks appear to be sellers. Kelly has been one of their more consistent pitchers this season, though he does come with some risk.
With Kelly aging and entering free agency at the end of the season, this would seemingly be a rental deal for the Blue Jays. Still, the proposed trade makes Toronto better right now and it would help the team chase the Yankees in the division.
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