Blue Jays & MLB Trade Deadline: 5 Things that NEED to Happen

Major League Baseball’s July 31st Non-Waiver Trade Deadline is fast approaching. If we were so inclined, we could count it down in hours now. For fans of the Toronto Blue Jays, there is bound to be a few days of nervous energy as they look for their team to end the longest active playoff drought in baseball. Heading into play on Tuesday, they sit 6.5 games out of first place in the American League East and 3 out of the Wild Card spot. And, even though they were closer to glory last season at this time, it feels as though there is more pressure on management to pull off a big deal.

It would seem that the pressure is not intimidating as the Blue Jays pulled off a mega trade in the wee hours of Monday into Tuesday by trading Jose Reyes, Jeff Hoffman, Jesus Tinoco and Miguel Castro for Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins. While there very well may be more info to come about this deal, it is certainly does indicate the direction this club is heading. They look to be going for it. But, have they even done anything to address their actual needs?

For weeks (Or, is it months?) we’ve been hearing links to just about every possible pitching target out there. Whether the Philadelphia Phillies are looking for Cole Hamels to waive his “no trade” clause, or the Chicago White Sox are looking to get something for Jeff Samardzija, the Blue Jays seem to have been linked. They have also been linked to David Price. At one point, the rumor that they were “in” talks for Johnny Cueto refused to die. We even wondered if Scott Kazmir would be a fit. It seems there has been no shortage of Blue Jays rumors to keep us hungry for a move.

Until a deal actually happens, or doesn’t happen as the case may be, we won’t know to what degree the Blue Jays are actually engaged in trade talks. But a common thought is that the Blue Jays are indeed looking for pitching help in an attempt to compete in 2015. And, with a large proportion of their games in September against division rivals, it would make sense that they operate this way. There are a total of 23 games in September against AL East opponents, including 7 against the division leading New York Yankees.

So, if this Blue Jays team is going to make some noise this year, there are 5 things they need to do. In baseball, there is no miracle cure for anything. There is no magical elixir. But, for the Toronto Blue Jays, there are some very obvious things that need to happen. Without these things, Blue Jays fans could be looking at another year without playoff baseball.

Next: Do the Blue Jays Know What They're Doing?