The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to add to their starting rotation after acquiring Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on Tuesday. Rumors suggest general manager Alex Anthopoulos is taking a look at some top arms on the trade market and wants the best acquisition cost.
Those starters include Cincinnati Reds' right-hander Mike Leake, Chicago White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija and San Diego Padres' right-hander Tyson Ross.
None of these come as a surprise since Leake had one of the most dominant July's in the MLB and Samardzija and Ross have been on the Blue Jays' radar for quite a while now. It's likely Anthopoulos wants a starter the team can control beyond the 2015 season, but he may not have that luxury since not many are available on the trade market. Each of these candidates is a realistic target, so let's see how possible it is one of these three lands in Toronto.
Mike Leake
The right-hander is 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 21 starts (136 1/3 innings) this season. He was 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA in five starts this month and has increased his trade value over that span. Leake has been viewed as a trade candidate for a while now because the Reds are underperforming and he'll be a free agent after 2015.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported earlier today that Leake is among the starters the Blue Jays are considering and the other targeted starters are "all at similar talent levels" as they're "looking for the best acquisition cost." The 27-year-old is a mid-rotation starter and soon-to-be free agent, so he won't be too expensive unless there is high demand among other MLB clubs.
Leake would be a solid addition in Toronto, but it's possible the club is looking at others who might profile closer to the top of the rotation.
Jeff Samardzija
He's been on Toronto's radar for a while now, but will the White Sox move him before Friday's deadline? The two sides were still talking about a deal as of yesterday, according to FOX Sports' Jon Morosi, but Chicago's recent surge has them only 3.5 games out of the wild-card race, which is likely to change general manager Rick Hahn's plans in the next couple of days.
Samardzija (8-5, 3.94 ERA) will also be a free agent after the season and had a good July after finishing 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in five starts. He's not among the top-tier starters, but he is definitely a game-changer and would be a significant upgrade for the Blue Jays.
If the White Sox do decide to trade Samardzija it appears as if Toronto could be the top candidate as Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports the Blue Jays "continue to make the biggest push" for the right-hander. However, it's possible the White Sox are asking for a lot in return if top contenders come knocking.
Tyson Ross
Ross is probably the top arm Anthopoulos would want out of these three. He's under club control through 2017 at a bargain price and he's been exceptional since becoming a full-time starter last season. The right-hander owns a 3.05 ERA in 52 starts since last year despite his 19-22 record over that span.
Acquiring Ross would also allow Toronto to look at the big picture and begin planning ahead as they'll have some controllable starters to work with (Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris) perhaps after this season. The Blue Jays might have some money to land another top arm and deepen the rotation in free agency after the season.
However, Ross is also being sought after by the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers, so there will be much competition for him if the Padres make him available.
The Blue Jays have still have good enough prospects to make another big deal and it's likely all three of these players are attainable for Anthopoulos. With just about two days left until the deadline it's expected Toronto will make a big move.
