Jays Have To Do Something Before Trade Deadline

September 18, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos speaks during a press conference addressing offensive comments written on the eye black of infielder Yunel Escobar (not pictured) before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

If the Toronto Blue Jays don’t do anything before the trade deadline I’m going to go to Rogers Centre and punch Alex Anthopoulos in the throat myself.

I went my whole life without being an internet bully but here we are!

He could probably take me in real life.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not antsy waiting for the Blue Jays to make a trade. After all the trade market has been slow so far this season as you probably have noticed if you’ve been paying attention to it.

But guess what? A team that’s 10 games below 500 after 100 games, has a losing record in 3 out of the 4 months of the season, had one 2 game win streak in April, that hasn’t had a 2 game win streak in July and has a losing record at their home freaking ball park is a team that needs more than just minor tweaks to be able to contend next season.

And of course the Jays also have the waiver trade deadline in August and the offseason to make sure we don’t repeat the disaster that is 2013 but they’ve got to get started on making changes now.

They can’t afford to stand pat.

Anyone in the bullpen should be available. The Orioles acquired K-Rod as a 2 month rental and had to give up a top 200 prospect.

The Jays have a loaded bullpen with lots of years of control. They might be able to cash in big time. The Jays also have a ridiculous amount of depth in the bullpen. And replacing a reliever is a lot easier to do then acquiring players at other positions.

As far as position players go if making an upgrade is possible that’s great but not crucial. If the Jays can trade a position player to get starting pitching without significantly hurting their offense then go for it.

But that’s a dicey situation.

They could use players they’re comfortable giving up from their farm system to.

Last season at this time I thought the 2012 rotation was going to be Morrow, Ricky, Happ, Henderson Alvarez and Carlos Villaneuva. So a lot can change from now to the start of 2014.

Who, how, where and when the Jays get new starting pitchers is anyone’s guess.

And the only Jays starters with trade value right now are staff ace Esmil Rogers, Dickey and Buehrle.

But if the Jays were to decide to really shake up their rotation they could trade guys with little trade value just for the sake of getting them off the team. But that seems like a long shot.

Rogers has only made 10 starts this season and failed as a starter before this season so it may not be that easy to sell high on him.

Dickey and Buehrle are both under control for a few more years and are still owed a lot of money so who knows what the Jays would get in return for them. They may have trade value but it’s definitely not where the Jays would want it to be.

But they’re both not going to be any younger next season.

The Jays don’t have to fix all their problems by the July 31st trade deadline. But they have too many problems to not at least get started on fixing on them.