Blue Jays trade candidates not named Josh Donaldson

Marco Estrada

The crafty hurler has seen his stock plummet for much of this season as Estrada struggles to regain the feel for his off-speed pitch. Marco is poised to become a free agent at season’s end but has publicly expressed interest in remaining in Toronto.

The 34-year old Estrada has an inflated 4.86 earned run average with a 1.482 WHIP in 17 starts this season. The hurler’s strikeout totals, however, are above his career norm fanning 105 in 96.1 innings of work thus far. Estrada had a disastrous June as opposing hitters touched him up for 28 runs in 6 starts.

Estrada has proved in previous postseasons that he is not fazed by the bright lights on the big stage which prospective teams may find appealing. He has been money in big games pitching to a 1.96 earned run average in 6 postseason starts with the Blue Jays over the past two seasons.

If the Jays are packing up shop and selling then Estrada is one of the players that makes the most sense to be moved due to his contractual status, even if the return isn’t earth shattering, you at least have to get something before he walks.

Perhaps, the Blue Jays can convince Estrada to go to a contender for the postseason push and then return to the team in the offseason much like the Yankees and Aroldis Chapman did last season. There is nobody more fun to watch pitch when he is on and changing speeds.