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

Aug 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

R.A. Dickey

(43) sits in the dugout after being pulled from the game during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Blue Jays 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Get Another Starter!

This sounds greedy and unrealistic, but it isn’t. The Blue Jays are not in a position where they can be comfortable with this rotation moving forward. They’ve removed Aaron Sanchez from the rotation, so they’re down another option. Drew Hutchison has been a mystery wrapped in an enigma. It is not an exaggeration to say that Mark Buehrle is the only pitcher they have that is going to give anything resembling a predictable start. There are just too many question marks.

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So, the Blue Jays should be looking at injecting another starter into this rotation. And, at this point, just about any reasonable option would be an improvement. There are ways to consider this. They could look down to AAA Buffalo and ask themselves if Daniel Norris is ready to return. Though, given his continuing struggles with command he is not a safe bet. He started Monday night and went just 5 innings, walking 4 and giving up 5 hits in 98 pitches. Matt Boyd is certainly another option. Though the mere mention of his name brings back memories of his last start where he couldn’t even get an out before he gave up 7 earned runs against the Texas Rangers.

So, the Blue Jays need to look outside the organization. If there is one thing that has been apparent this Trade Deadline season is that there is quite a bit of available pitching. And, if the Blue Jays actually decide that they are going to upgrade their pitching, there will be options available.

Perhaps a team like the San Diego Padres can be reached out to for one of the starters they’ve been rumored to have made available. Could the Blue Jays pull off a big deal and reel in two fish? They certainly need to. Yes, it will be costly, but if they’ve indeed decided that they are going to compete this year, they need to accept that they are going to have to pay. And, that is only to do a couple of the things they need to do. There’s more!

Next: The Blue Jays Need to Address their Bullpen