Blue Jays trade Jesse Chavez for Mike Bolsinger

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly sent right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Chavez to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Mike Bolsinger.

This follows a second deal, reported almost simultaneously, that the Blue Jays had acquired swingman Scott Feldman from the Houston Astros in exchange for 18-year-old pitching prospect Guadalupe Chavez.

After arriving in Toronto via an offseason deal for fan favourite Liam Hendriks, Jesse Chavez did not live up to expectations in a relief role. He leaves the Blue Jays with a 4.57 ERA over 39 games, a number largely inflated by the nine home runs he allowed over 41.1 innings pitched. In his last outing, Chavez allowed a three-run home run in the 12th inning against the Baltimore Orioles that led to a loss.

In Bolsinger, Toronto adds a depth starter whose role within the organization is not immediately clear. He has made six MLB starts this season for the injury-riddled Dodgers, going 1-4 with a 6.83 ERA. Last season with the Dodgers, Bolsinger looked much stronger over 21 starts with a 3.62 ERA.

In 13 appearances with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, including two starts, Bolsinger has posted a 3.41 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 29.0 innings.

One of the most important factors regarding Bolsinger is that he is under team control until 2022, and does not become arbitration eligible until 2018.

Like Feldman, this addition offers Toronto an added level of flexibility as they continue to examine the right course of action with young starter, and American League ERA leader, Aaron Sanchez.