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Blue Jays: The American League teams most likely to come calling in trade talks

By Chris Henderson

TORONTO, ON - MAY 24: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim arrives safely at second base in the eighth inning during MLB game action as Devon Travis #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays cannot handle the throw at Rogers Centre on May 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 24: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim arrives safely at second base in the eighth inning during MLB game action as Devon Travis #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays cannot handle the throw at Rogers Centre on May 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees is tagged out by Christian Vazquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox trying to score on Aaron Judge #99 single in the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium on May 8, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees is tagged out by Christian Vazquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox trying to score on Aaron Judge #99 single in the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium on May 8, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Yankees and Red Sox

Let me start by saying I don’t see this as a likelihood, at all. That said, I think it’s something to be explored from both sides, and the Yankees in particular make a lot of sense for the Blue Jays as trade partners, if not for that whole being in the same division thing.

For the Yankees the need is similar to most teams in baseball, as they could use an upgrade to their starting rotation. They have Luis Severino, but beyond that there are a lot of question marks. Masahiro Tanaka can be an asset most of the time, but he’s currently sporting a 4.58 ERA despite being 7-2. He’s also dealing with two strained hamstrings at the moment from running the bases, but that should heal soon enough.

The bigger problem is Jordan Montgomery has been lost for the year to Tommy John surgery, and Sonny Gray is struggling again. C.C. Sabathia has been good this season, but it’s hard to say how much he can be counted on as the season wears on. They could really use another starting pitcher, and maybe even two. The Blue Jays could definitely provide that with Happ, and even Estrada could have some value to them in the right situation.

There really isn’t a great fit for the Red Sox and Blue Jays to connect in a trade, unless the Red Sox decided to swing for the fences and bring in Donaldson. I don’t expect that to happen, especially because they’d be sending young assets to a team with a strong minor league system already, and that’s not a great recipe for their future.

I wouldn’t rule out the two teams as a possible fit, but as always I wouldn’t expect anything to materialize between the division rivals.

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