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Blue Jays: Top five trade targets that should be in the sights

By Chris Henderson

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 11: President and CEO Mark Shapiro of the Toronto Blue Jays talks to general manager Ross Atkins before the start of their home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rogers Centre on April 11, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 11: President and CEO Mark Shapiro of the Toronto Blue Jays talks to general manager Ross Atkins before the start of their home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rogers Centre on April 11, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JULY 25: Dylan Bundy #37 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning in the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 25, 2020 in Oakland, California. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

#3- The Angels have to be ready to say uncle

The 2020 season was supposed to be different for the Los Angeles Angels, as they’d finally brought some star power to join Mike Trout and help push them into the playoffs. Only, pretty much the opposite has happened.

As a result it’s widely expected that the Angels will be shopping Dylan Bundy, and if that’s the case then I’m sure the Blue Jays will at least check in on the situation. The 27-year-old is having a career year with the Angels, and seems to be finally making good on the promise that made him the 4th overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft. He couldn’t put things together while in Baltimore for all those years, but he wouldn’t be the first pitcher to say that. My colleague Clayton Richer wrote about how the two clubs could (or should) link up, and it’s worth checking out. 

Assuming Bundy ends up traded, the acquiring team will obviously be buying in to a lasting change in his results. That said, even with his stock rising quite a bit over the last month or so (he’s 3-2, 2.58 ERA, 0.887 WHIP, 44 Ks over 38.1 innings) it’s hard to imagine the Angels will get a return that’s equivalent to an ace.

He’s received just a pro-rated portion of five million this year, and with one year left of arbitration eligibility he’s bound to be a lot more expensive next season. That said, if he keeps performing the way he has been since arriving in L.A. then he’ll still be a huge bargain. Sustained success isn’t the easiest thing to achieve, but he looks like he’s on the right track. Health hasn’t been a problem for him in recent seasons either, as he’s averaged 29.7 starts per season from 2017-19, and threw 160 or more innings in each year.

It’s a gamble to be sure, but if the Blue Jays are going to give up trade assets, I’d rather see them do it for a controllable arm. If you can acquire one with the upside and potential that Bundy has shown this year, even better. We’ll just see what the asking price ends up being, but I’m sure Ross Atkins will at least call to ask.