7 Blue Jays reunions we’d like to see at this year’s trade deadline

Kendall Graveman, Chicago White Sox

As many would recall, Kendall Graveman was part of the huge package the Jays sent to the Oakland Athletics back during the 2014 offseason in acquiring the “Bringer of Rain” Josh Donaldson. Prior to being dealt, he appeared in five games in a Jays’ uniform and posted a respectable 3.86 ERA 107 ERA+, and 0.86 WHIP. He would go on to struggle for much of his time with the Athletics, until his eventual breakout season with the Seattle Mariners in 2021, and has not looked back since. Graveman has since become one of the premium relievers in the game, noted for both his consistency and reliability.

For 2023, Graveman sports a 3-4 record with eight saves, along with a 3.07 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, giving up only 14 earned runs, 19 walks and 40 strikeouts over 41 innings of work. The 2014 trade that brought in Donaldson helped the Jays in reaching the postseason in the two subsequent years. So perhaps the same fortunes can rear its head again in a reunion trade in bringing back Graveman for a second go-around so that he can help the current Jays in reaching the postseason this year and the year(s) to follow as well.

Liam Hendriks, Chicago White Sox

If the Graveman plan doesn’t work out, how about taking a look at his White Sox teammate Liam Hendriks? After all, Hendriks had been through the excitement with the team when the Jays reached the postseason in 2015. Not only that, he had a solid season with the ballclub that year, posting a perfect 5-0 record, along with a 2.92 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. But what’s more important is that Hendriks has gotten even better in recent years, and has turned into a bonafide, shutdown, strikeout-machine MLB closer.

Even more impressive is the fact that he is not only a winner on the field, but off as well with his recent victory over non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. He recently received the Jimmy V Award for perseverance at the 2023 ESPYs and revealed that he actually pitched in his All-Star 2022 MLB season with the disease because it was undiagnosed at the time. Presently, he is on the IL with elbow inflammation after appearing in five games this season, but he hopes to return again some time this season. If the Jays are willing to take the chance with Hendriks and he somehow regains his form and health prior to 2022, look for him to be at his best to lead the charge. Especially after all of what he had gone through the past year, nothing seems impossible for him anymore.

Tayler Saucedo, Seattle Mariners

An interesting option coming out of Seattle is former Blue Jay pitcher Tayler Saucedo. His name might not jump out onto the page as much as what the pedigree Graveman or Hendriks would bring. However, Saucedo has quietly put together a strong season for the Mariners in 2023. In 27 games, he has accumulated a 2-1 record with a tidy 2.45 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, giving up only seven earned runs all year, with 12 walks and 26 strikeouts in 25.2 innings pitched. The slightly high walk rate may be a bit worrisome, but he has also held his opponents to just a .227 batting average to even things out.

Of the three potential reliever targets, Saucedo would cost the Jays the least amount of assets to acquire so that they could save some to hit bigger targets to fill other needs at the trade deadline. In addition, Saucedo is the only lefty among the three and that has been something the Jays sorely lack, with Tim Mayza being the sole lefthanded reliever in the Jays’ bullpen for all of 2023. Also, the Jays could potentially go big and try to acquire Saucedo along with another teammate (see below) in a bigger trade package deal to address multiple needs at once.

Teoscar Hernández, Seattle Mariners

Speaking of Saucedo’s teammate, wouldn’t it be great to bring back Teoscar Hernández to the ballclub? The acquisition of Erik Swanson from the Mariners to bolster the bullpen has been paying huge dividends for the Jays so far this season; however, at the same time, the Jays have definitely missed Hernández’s power bat and clutch hitting time and time again throughout the year. He certainly provided great protection for those that batted ahead of him for years in the past, and could do so again if the Jays can bring him back once again.

For the 2023 season, Hernández is hitting .244 with a .728 OPS, 42 runs scored, 15 home runs, 50 RBI, and five stolen bases. But more importantly, he has come through big time with RISP, an area that has hurt the Jays aplenty this season. He is hitting .319 with an OPS of .868 with RISP, producing three home runs and 36 RBI in the process. He can potentially be the offence difference maker for the Jays if a reunion with him is in the cards, and perhaps, he can also bring back some fun and character in the clubhouse, as at times, they seem too serious nowadays.

Randal Grichuk, Colorado Rockies

Another former Jay that is performing quite well, minus some power output though, is Randal Grichuk. Playing in a part-time outfield utility role with the Colorado Rockies in 2023, Grichuk has put together a solid season with a .300 batting average, .837 OPS, 115 OPS+, with 33 runs scored, five home runs and 22 RBI. His slight power outage may leave a bit to be desired, but the fact his batting average is currently his career high by a mile shows that he has improved greatly in his contact and hitting mechanics.

Moreover, at the stage in their careers, Grichuk is more likely to accept a part-time platoon role than Hernández, so if the Jays don’t intend to give the incoming player everyday playing time, Grichuk may be the more suitable piece to add as a power bat off the bench and spot starts in the outfield if needed. In addition, Grichuk was a fan favourite in his time in Toronto, so the Jays’ fanbase would more than welcome his presence once again with the ballclub.

Brandon Drury, Los Angeles Angels

As one could recall, Brandon Drury was acquired in a trade by the Jays back in 2018 along with Billy McKinney from the New York Yankees for J.A. Happ. Many of the Jays’ faithful were unhappy with the trade because they felt Happ should have gotten the Jays a far bigger or valuable return. To make matters worse, both Drury and McKinney would go on to struggle in a Jays’ uniform and both were gone from the team by 2020.

However, since then, Drury has evolved into an offensive force, with a Silver Slugger award to top it off in 2022 when he hit .263 with 87 runs scored, 31 doubles, 28 home runs and 87 RBI with the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres. This year with the Los Angeles Angels, Drury sports a .277 average, .822 OPS, with 36 runs scored, 17 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 45 RBI in just 75 games played. With the ability to play all over the field, in addition to his power production in recent years, Drury may finally be welcomed back by the Jays’ faithful if they choose to pursue him at the trade deadline to upgrade their offence and provide positional flexibility as well.

Overall, look for the Jays to make at least one or two deals at the minimum by the trade deadline, and hopefully, we may see a former Jay or two in the process, giving them a second chance to help the team be successful once again.