Blue Jays: The Minnesota Twins could be the ideal trade partner

Since the All-Star break, the Toronto Blue Jays have gone 4-4, sweeping the Texas Rangers before dropping a series against the Boston Red Sox (one game was rained out to be made up later in August) and another against the New York Mets. The Jays currently sit 9.5 games back of the Red Sox in the AL East and four games back of the Wild Card.

Looking at the roster overall, the Blue Jays need to improve their bullpen if they want to field a competitive team that could challenge for a spot in the postseason this year. While the bullpen does need some additional arms, a starting pitcher would also be a wise investment before the trade deadline later this week. Rookie pitcher Alek Manoah could be moved to the bullpen to conserve innings given his pro ball experience (and the lost 2020 season) and with Steven Matz being inconsistent as of late, a veteran starter would be a good option to have for August and September.

If the Blue Jays do choose to be buyers before the July 30th trade deadline, as they could choose to stand pat or be sellers before Friday, the Minnesota Twins could be the ideal team to fulfill all the needs on the roster.

The Toronto Blue Jays will need to improve the current pitching corps if they want to contend this season, with the Minnesota Twins being an ideal trade partner to improve both the rotation and the bullpen if the right deal can be made.

Bullpen

In the Twins bullpen, there are two arms that could provide some additional stability to the Jays bullpen if they become available before the deadline: RHP Tyler Duffey and LHP Taylor Rogers.

Duffey is having a great 2021 campaign, throwing to a 3.13 ERA through 39 appearances and 37.1 innings, striking out 32 batters and compiling a 1.34 WHIP. His career stats are not outstanding (4.61 ERA as both a starter and reliever), but since turning into a full-time reliever in 2019, the right-hander has kept his ERA under 3.20 and has been one of the best middle relief pitchers in the Twins bullpen. He is currently in his second year of arbitration and will not become eligible for free agency until after next season.

Taylor Rogers has been gaining most of the headlines from the Twins camp when it comes to trade deadline rumours, with the southpaw being one of the most dependable arms in Minnesota’s bullpen since his debut in 2016.

For his career, Rogers sports a career 3.15 ERA with 361 strikeouts while also racking up 50 saves, earning 30 of them in 2019 alone. This season, Rogers is pitching well once again, throwing to a 3.35 ERA with 59 strikeouts through 39 appearances and 40.1 appearances. Like Duffey, he will not be eligible for free agency until after next season.

Considering both pitchers will not be considered pure rentals, acquiring both players may be a bit of a stretch, especially if the Blue Jays also try and go after one of the Twins starters. Rogers would be the ideal candidate out of the two but if Atkins can get Duffey for the right price/deal, his experience would bode well in the Blue Jays bullpen for the next two seasons.