Blue Jays: The Pros and Cons of trading for a Left-Handed Bat

Adding a left-handed batter is great in theory but there are some drawbacks if the Jays decide to explore the market.

One of those drawbacks is playing time, in that adding a player means someone else has to sit. The question is, who?

With Danny Jansen slated to return soon, the Jays will potentially feature three full-time catchers on the roster unless one is traded or Moreno is optioned back down to AAA. Alejandro Kirk is on an absolute tear right now and his bat should be in the lineup with regularity, whether it be in the DH or catching position. The Jays also utilize the DH as a sort of rest day for their star players as well, moving George Springer or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to the position to insert a lefty bat into the lineuo like Biggio or Tapia. By adding another bat to the mix, not only do the Jays have to find a roster spot (Zimmer?) but manager Charlie Montoyo has to juggle the lineup to get said player in the game, which means either sitting a star player on their “rest day” or one of the catchers cannot DH.

An additional drawback with a lefty-bat acquisition is what the trade return is, which is heavily dependent on the player the Jays choose to go after. Benintendi and Bell for example will require some prospect capital but both are free agents at the end of the season, potentially limiting the damage compared to a player like Ian Happ who is under additional contract/team control. However, with the expanded playoff format this year, more teams will be buying compared to seasons prior and that has the potential to drive up the return package needed for players on teams looking to sell. Many would agree that if the Jays are serious about contending, trading some prospect assets is a move that has to be made to improve the current roster but overpaying for a rental can lead to disastrous results if things don’t pan out. High risk, high reward.

Another point to consider is that this player will also require a 40-man spot as the Jays are currently full, with both Ryu and Tayler Saucedo on the 60-day IL and their spots taken. The club does have some options if they want to DFA a pitcher like Shaun Anderson or Jeremy Beasley, so this isn’t as much of a concern as the points above, but one that is worth noting. Does Biggio or Tapia’s recent success also negate the need for an additional LHB in the long-run?