Blue Jays: Ranking The Top 10 Potential Trade Targets

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 15: Joe Musgrove #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 15, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

#10-SP Joe Musgrove

I’m starting off this list with a player who was apparently almost a Jay at the trade deadline last year – Joe Musgrove. It makes sense that the Jays were in on Musgrove as he’s a quality pitcher who is getting deep into arbitration and is on a team in Pittsburgh who’s looking to sell off big-league talent for prospects. Musgrove hasn’t been anything special over his career posting a 4.33 ERA, 1.232 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 96 over 496.2 innings. Musgrove will only be 28 next season. This should be an appealing age for the Jays as he is younger than most starters on the free-agent market and would line up better with their young core.

Why Joe Musgrove to the Blue Jays is a trade the Pirates should make. https://t.co/WfXI2LZiFn | @RobBiertempfel | @kaitlyncmcgrath

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This trade is also intriguing as Pirates GM Ben Cherington, used to work in the Jays front office as an assistant GM. Cherington will be familiar with some of the Jays more under the radar prospects or less known prospects. This is important as the Pirates won’t be getting a top prospect back for Musgrove so being familiar with some of the lesser-known Jays prospects may make Cherington more willing to deal Musgrove to the Jays than he would to another team. Musgrove wouldn’t be a flashy move, but he would raise this team’s floor and be a better option at the back end of the rotation than a guy like Tanner Roark.

Potential Trade

TOR receives SP Joe Musgrove; PIT receives C Reese McGuire, SP TJ Zeuch, RP Hector Perez

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