Blue Jays Morning Brew: Mercy, its time for a break

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the All Star Break one game under .500 and the masses are growing angry, gathering at the gates with pitchforks at torches, crying for the release or trade of everyone from R.A. Dickey to the team masseuse. We’ll be cranking up trade deadline coverage here at Jays Journal, and may be rolling out a pilot program offering therapy, but for now, enjoy the best of Blue Jays’ links and stories from this past weekend.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Jose Bautista monitoring shoulder flare-up  –  The Blue Jays star right fielder will miss the upcoming All Star Game to rest his ailing shoulder, which started to give him trouble again in the Chicago series. Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star got us caught up with the injury.

“There’s some therapy to be done, and I’d possibly miss a few days (games), so the advantage of this is to listen to the doctors,” Bautista said. “It has to do with my health, and finishing the season as strong as possible.”

He also did not rule out cortisone in his hilariously discreet responses, but this is a situation worth close monitoring over the next several weeks. If he needs some days out of the field at DH, that slides Justin Smoak back to the bench with Edwin Encarnacion at first. Can’t Smoak catch a break?

Blue Jays monitoring Steve Cishek?  –  Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe lists the Blue Jays as one of the teams keeping an eye on Marlins reliever Steve Cishek. The 29-year old comes with an ERA above 5.00 in 2015, but that is largely ballooned by an ugly start to the season. He’s proven to be a quality option in the past, but at this point, perhaps the Blue Jays should be zeroing in on starters first and worrying about relievers later.

Buehrle in no rush to be an All Star  –  Stashed at the bottom of Ken Fidlin’s piece on Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle is a great line from the veteran left-hander, who has been Toronto’s top starting option throughout most of 2015.

Also on Jays Journal: Team must consider 2016 rotation at deadline

“There are guys in the bullpen and some other starters that have better numbers than I do. I go out and try to win every game, not get numbers that will get me to the all-star game. If you go, it’s a great honour but I’ve had my four-day break planned out for a while and I hope it stays that way.”

Don’t leave, Mark Buehrle. Never, ever leave.

Scott Kazmir breakdown  –  Joshua Howsam of Blue Jays Plus gives us an in-depth look at Scott Kazmir, a popular trade candidate who has been linked to the Blue Jays. It’s great to remember the incredible path Kazmir has taken from fireballing top-prospect, to being out of baseball and now climbing back up the mountain. As Joshua touches on, the velocity has returned.

The argument is made that he should slot in right behind Johnny Cueto on this trade market, and the evidence is very convincing. Kazmir’s only downside, however, is the still-present risk of injury. He was forced to leave his last start with triceps soreness and was experiencing a marginal dip in velocity.

Next: Do Blue Jays and Padres match up as trade partners?

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King