Should The Blue Jays Trade Marcus Stroman?

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After the first half of the season for the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays, the focus within its fan-base is zeroed in on one thing – trades. The general consensus is that the Jays need to acquire, at the very least, a high quality starting pitcher in order to give them a much desired playoff push. It can also be argued that in addition to the need for starting pitching, the Jays need bullpen assistance, and ideally, someone that can be used as a sort of “super utility” to offset the woes that are in left field and the infield.

Now, in a perfect world, Alex Anthopoulos can utilize his ninja skills and acquire all of the areas of need without giving up too much. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are many other teams that are flirting with the notion of a playoff push, and are also looking to acquire the same areas of need that the Jays are seeking. In other words, it’s clearly a seller’s market.

This story seems familiar, no? For at least the past several seasons, Jays fans have been chirping that the team is just “X” away from making that playoff push. Yet, what has also been consistent for the same amount of time is that the Jays failed to acquire what was needed. This is sometimes because teams that Anthopoulos tried to initiate trades with want in return what we like to call “The Untouchables.”

We’re all familiar with these types of prospects/players; the type of players that would ultimately damage the team more (on and off the field) than any return could possibly mitigate, or so we like to believe. In the past, the Jays would balk on deals involving a potential returns because opposing clubs wanted these “untouchables.”

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In hindsight, however, perhaps the Jays would have been better off making such deals. I’d like to first take a look at some examples of players that we would have deemed “untouchable,” but in hindsight we end up face-palming ourselves at the notion of refusing to move them. Hopefully, if we recognize that the Jays were actually better off dealing these players, we can allow ourselves to put things in perspective and come to realize one difficult yet glaring thing – there is no such thing as an untouchable.

Next: The Untouchables

May 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder

Travis Snider

(23) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Snider – Travis Snider came up through the Jays minor league system with an enormous amount of hype. He was perhaps the most powerful hitter the Jays had in their farm at the time, and fans anticipated his arrival. A first round pick in 2006, he debuted in Single-A Dunedin in 2008, and shot his way up to the BIgs in August of that same year. The hype around Snider is something I believe that most Jays fans can remember, and was a prospect that was cherished and considered “untouchable.”

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Yet, as time went on, Snider’s hitting woes occurred more and more, and perhaps the Jays were better off dealing him while the hype was at its peak. He never quite hit his stride with the Jays and spent most of the time finding his swing in the minors. Who knows what the return would have been if Snider was packaged other lower level prospects? Certainly, if the Jays struck while the iron was hot, they would have gotten more in return than they ultimately did when they traded him to the Pirates for Brad Lincoln.

Feb 18, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

Ricky Romero

(24) throws as the Blue Jays workout at

Bobby Mattick

Training Center. Mandatory Credit:

David Manning

-USA TODAY Sports

Rickey Romero – Romero was drafted 5th overall by the Jays in the 2005 amateur entry draft. It took him a while to debut for the Jays, but in April of 2009, Cito Gaston showed confidence in the young prospect and placed him in the rotation. Although he demonstrated some injury concerns, during his time with the Jays between 2009-2012, he showed some promise to be able to be a leader in the rotation, as Jays fans saw him as the one to take the reigns from Roy Halladay. However, as his tenure with the Jays continued, Romero started to show trouble with his control and command. The consensus was that Romero’s biggest problem was between the ears and perhaps a short trip in the minors could help regain his confidence. We all know the story; it was all downhill from there. Romero began to struggle for the Jays, lasting fewer and fewer innings with each start. He became somewhat of a regular down in Triple-A for the Bisons, until he underwent knee surgery in June of 2014, ultimately being released by the Jays earlier this year. Although Romero produced quality starts for the Jays early in his tenure, he is ultimately another example of a prospect that perhaps would have made more sense to deal while he was at his peak

Next: Two More Untouchables

Apr 19, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher

Kyle Drabek

(51) in the dugout against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Drabek – Although he was not drafted and developed by the Jays, he was acquired in the infamous Roy Halladay trade, and with a lot of promise and potential. Drabek, if you recall, was the crown jewel for the Halladay trade and was said to be the difference maker for the future rotation. The hype was not misleading, as he threw a no-hitter for Double-A New Hampshire in 2010, only to be called up by the Jays in September of the same year. Yet, it was the following year that we came to realize that the hype of Drabek was overstated, as he found himself spending more and more time in Triple-A Las Vegas (and Buffalo), trying to establish his command. After flip-flopping up and down between the Bigs and Triple-A, the Jays would ultimately place Drabek on waivers, and was claimed by the Chicago White Sox earlier this year.

Jun 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman

Brett Lawrie

(15) fields the ball against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Lawrie – Here was a guy that was positioned to become the face of the franchise, post Jose Bautista. HIs passion and aggressive approach – not to mention the fact that he is also Canadian – was admired and loved by Jays fans all over Canada. Acquired from a trade that sent Shaun Marcum over to Milwaukee, Lawrie was set to be the club’s future 3rd baseman with a boatload of potential. This was a talent that both the Front Office and most Jays fans agreed to be untouchable. In fact, Alex Anthopoulos went as far as saying this, verbatim, as we have seen in the leaked trade discussions with the Houston Astros. Yet, in hindsight, it seems that we considered Lawrie untouchable mostly due to the intangibles that he brought, instead of his abilities on the field. Ultimately, Lawrie is proof for Jays fans that even though we considered him to be untouchable, trading him for the right return turned out to be very beneficial. Josh Donaldson anyone?

Now, I understand that I have the benefit of hindsight working very well in my favor, as there is no real way to know which prospects will meet the expectations set out by scouts, fans, and management. I also understand that Anthopoulos has traded high-level prospects in the past. However, the point is to illustrate that those we value so highly now, may not be as great as we expect them to be later. If there is an opportunity for the Jays to trade potential for proven talent, I see no good reason for them not to. Which leads me to what many Jays fans will find as a blasphemy. Check it out on the next page.

Next: Could the Blue Jays do the Unthinkable?

Mar 4, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) stands on the mound as the pace of play clock hits one second during of a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Jays should listen to offers for Marcus Stroman.

Toronto Blue Jays

Before you break whatever device you’re reading this article with, allow me to say that in no way do I assume that because past Jays prospects failed to live up to expectations automatically means that all Jays prospects will follow suit. I’m not even stating that the Jays should trade Stroman. Yet, what I am suggesting is that if it means acquiring a proven major league talent that can lead the rotation and come in as an established Ace, then the Jays should at least entertain the idea.

We all know that the Jays are in “win now” mode, and their starting rotation isn’t really doing much to help them out in doing so. Yet, if the Jays were to acquire someone like a Sonny Gray, or a James Shields, then they would have a leg-up over the competition and could very well make that playoff push. If it costs the Jays a package of Stroman and a few B-Level prospects, then the Jays need to consider it. Yes, it will be terrible to see if Stroman maximizes his potential and becomes dominant in the Major Leagues for another team, much like Noah Syndergaard. However, more than likely the Jays are going to be in a bidding war with other teams for certain starting pitchers, and Stroman could very well be a difference maker that helps them. If Alex is able to focus on the present and not cling to certain prospects if the return seems good enough to give them the advantage, then we may see him deal away prospects that we consider to be our future.

It’s important to note, though, that I am not encouraging the Jays to deal these high level prospects for rental players. Dealing away Stroman for a pitcher like Cueto is something that the Jays should stray away from. However, if it’s for a starter that is a proven major league ace, that has years of control available, then dealing away Marcus Stroman may actually help put them in the playoffs.

So please, I invite you to discuss this and welcome your opinion on the matter. Do you consider Stroman, or any other Jays player and/or prospect to be untouchable? Or do you think that, for the right return, any player can be dealt? Leave a comment below.

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