Blue Jays: Six teams that could be trade partners at the deadline

This past week has been frustrating for both the Blue Jays and their fans. They dropped the series against the Tampa Bay Rays by losing two games on Saturday and one on Sunday and struggled on their west coast road trip, winning only one game in Oakland and getting swept in Seattle, sporting a 1-9 record in their last ten games.

The Blue Jays now sit fourth in the AL East and just two games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles. They are also now tied with the Mariners for the last Wild Card spot and three other AL clubs sit three games or less behind both clubs in the Wild Card standings.

Something has to change if the Blue Jays are going to try and make the postseason, as the AL Wild Card standings are going to be a dogfight to the bitter end. There is no guarantee that the Blue Jays will make the playoffs at this point in the season and without some outside reinforcements before the trade deadline, the club may fall short just like they did last year.

The Jays have a few needs that can take this team to the next level:

• Additional bullpen arms
• One additional starting pitcher
• One left-handed batter

Considering the trade deadline is still a few weeks away, I highly doubt a trade is going to be made within the next day or so but the sooner Ross Atkins can get a deal done, the better it will be for the Blue Jays who have to contend with roughly four to five teams just on the outside of the playoff standings.

What better way to bolster the club by trading with a team that can check off or satisfy more than one of the areas I mentioned above? Trading with a team and acquiring both a solid bullpen arm and a lefty bat for example could be just what the Blue Jays need to help get them to meaningful October baseball. Considering there are quite a few teams most likely selling at the deadline, Ross Atkins and co. have a few different options at their disposal.