Blue Jays: Four relievers to watch on the trade radar this summer

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 14: David Bednar #51 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on May 14, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 14: David Bednar #51 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on May 14, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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Blue Jays
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MAY 01: David Robertson #37 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth inning at American Family Field on May 01, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

David Robertson

A name Blue Jays fans may remember from his nine-year career with the New York Yankees, reliever David Robertson underwent Tommy John surgery back in early 2020 and has bounced around the past couple of years before finding himself with the Chicago Cubs to start the 2022 campaign.

A former late-inning reliever and closer (once Mariano Rivera retired and after he was traded to Chicago), Robertson used to be one of the top bullpen arms in the game, producing a 2.88 ERA through ten seasons split between the Yankees and Chicago White Sox spanning from 2008 to 2018. Featuring a great knuckle-curve, Robertson currently sports a 11.6 K/9 with 695.0 innings under his belt and 144 saves for his career.

Signing a one-year deal with the Cubs this past offseason, Robertson is having a strong start to the season that is showing glimpses of his old self on the mound. Through 18 outings and 19.1 innings, the right-hander has allowed just four earned runs while striking out 26, earning seven saves on the season. The Cubs currently own a 21-27 record and while they might not be ready to sell now, continuing this trend should seem the club sell off some assets the closer the trade deadline comes into view. Robertson would net a solid return even though he would be considered a rental with the possibility of free agency at the end of the season and would be a nice addition for a younger club like the Blue Jays looking for some veteran depth with playoff experience.