Blue Jays rumors: Trade talks with Milwaukee Brewers

The Blue Jays rumor mill doesn’t sleep, with the latest report linking them to discussions with the Milwaukee Brewers

In the wee hours of Monday night and/or Tuesday morning, word out of Nashville was that the Blue Jays have talked with the Brewers about a potential deal. Milwaukee hadn’t initially been pegged a team scrambling to unload arms, but their roster does offer several pieces that could be both appealing to another market and beneficial to the Brewers retooling after a 68-94 season.

Was told Toronto talked to #Brewers today but they have Tulo at SS, Martin at C, both long-term, so not sure what match might be.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) December 8, 2015

This comes on the heels of another midnight report from Chris Cotillo that the Blue Jays are still looking to add starting pitching. Ross Atkins had said in his introductory press conference that the current group is enough to be successful as is, but frankly, what else was he supposed to say?

Industry speculation growing that the Jays could add another starter even after Happ and Estrada signings.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 8, 2015

Taking a look at the Brewers roster, they do offer some young upside arms in Jimmy Nelson and Taylor Jungmann who seem more along the lines of a past Mark Shapiro trade target, but dealing from youth and potential seems fairly counterintuitive for Milwaukee right now. You could also throw in names like Jorge Lopez or Zach Davies, who enjoyed upper-minors success before getting his first taste of MLB action in 2015.

I’m of the thinking that the trade route would not be the most cost-effective way to add competition for the number five role, though, as that could be easier accomplished through lower-level free agency without surrendering assets. Perhaps Wily Peralta would make more sense as a bounce-back candidate, as the 26-year old Dominican is entering his first year of arbitration eligibility ($2.8 million projected salary).