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

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently on a roll, winning nine of their last ten games and running with an eight-game win streak that includes sweeping the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox. One of the main factors has been the bats finding a groove as of late, scoring six or more runs in seven of their last eight games and having had contributions from the entire lineup, even with Vladimir Gurrero Jr. not hitting the ball like fans are used to seeing.

Looking at the overall lineup and with the recent hot streak of Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen splitting time as catcher/DH over the past week, the Jays’ main focus this summer when it comes to trades should be more on improving the bullpen. Adding a player like Josh Bell or Andrew Benintendi would make the roster better to finish out the year but I believe they are not needed as much as some more dependable arms in the relief corps.

That being said, let’s take a look at some potential bullpen arms the Blue Jays could trade for.

David Bednar

A late-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres back in 2016, right-hander David Bednar found himself heading to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of the trade package for Joe Musgrove during the 2020/2021 offseason. Since joining the Pirates, Bednar has done a complete 180 on his career and has found himself entrenched as the club’s closer moving forward.

Since the start of 2021, Bednar has amassed a 1.97 ERA through 82 outings, earning 12 saves while striking out batters at an 11.6 K/9 through 86.2 innings of work. While he never gained a foothold with the Padres, Bednar is finding success on the east coast which currently has him being featured as not only one of the top relievers in the NL East but also on the trade radar given the Pirates struggling record.

The Blue Jays will most likely explore the reliever market as the trade deadline rolls near this summer, with a few names piquing interest early this year.

While acquiring Bednar would certainly improve the Jays’ bullpen, trading for him will be a difficult task considering he still has four years of team control and isn’t scheduled to hit free agency until 2027.

The Pirates can ask for more in prospect return because of this control and while the Jays could dip into some prospect depth when it comes to pitching and middle infielders, the cost and competition for Bednar could drive the asking price too high when all is said and done. Pittsburgh could also choose to hold onto their top reliever because of this control but if they want a haul of prospects, selling high on the hometown product will yield a hefty return this summer.

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.

Michael Fulmer

Staying with the Detroit Tigers theme (there are a few relievers who could fit the bill for the Blue Jays bullpen), starter turned reliever Michael Fulmer is one player who could find himself on the trade block as the deadline rolls around later this year.

The right-hander found himself heading to the Tigers alongside Luis Cessa at the 2015 deadline as part of the New York Mets’ return for Yoenis Cespedes. Fulmer flirted with the starting rotation for the next five seasons but struggled towards the 2020 mark, eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery in February 2020. Upon his return, Fulmer transitioned more towards the bullpen and now finds himself there permanently, a move that has produced strong results since 2021. This year alone, Fulmer is sporting a 2.89 ERA through 19 outings while striking out 18 batters through 18.2 innings. He has also finished four games this year for the Tigers and has one save on record, allowing just six earned runs this season but walking a few too many batters, evident by his 4.3 BB/9.

While the free passes may be a concern, Fulmer is a free agent at the end of the season and the price tag might not be as high as some of the other reliever rentals this summer on the trade block. The Tigers might not be ready to sell off any pitching assets just yet but could be persuaded if they are far back of the playoff race by the end of July, with Fulmer most likely high on the trade block given his expiring contract and solid stats this season.