The Toronto Blue Jays (18-23) lead the MLB in runs scored (212), but they rank 29th in ERA (4.76) and last in starter's ERA (5.24), which can explain why they're the last place team in the American League East. Should the club consider trading one of their two top hitters for pitching help?
It all began when starting pitcher Marcus Stroman was lost for the season after he tore his ACL in spring training. While that was perhaps one of the biggest losses for any team in the MLB, the right-hander could not have carried this abysmal Blue Jays' pitching staff.
Mark Buehrle, R.A. Dickey and Drew Hutchison - those who should have been leading the starting rotation this season - all have ERAs over 5.00 and prospect Daniel Norris was sent back down to the minors after a slow start to the season. This leaves Marco Estrada (who has made three starts) and Aaron Sanchez (another prospect) as the club's best options in the rotation as of right now.
Something clearly needs to be done. Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests the club parts ways with one of their best bats.
"I think they should be aggressively offering Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion in trades to try to add pitching. This is not to surrender. This is about taking from a strength few have (offense) to address a weakness.
"However, the Jays might already have missed the window with Bautista. He gained 10-and-5 rights to waive any trade seven games into this season plus incurred a shoulder injury that currently has reduced him to a DH. Encarnacion earns 10-and-5 rights on July 3, so Toronto might have just six weeks to act."
Teams such as the Los Angeles Angels are looking for more power in their outfield right now (both Bautista and Encarnacion can play there) and others will likely follow as the deadline approaches. Additionally, the two sluggers have team options for next season at bargain salaries, so they become more attractive assets.
And it's not like Toronto would be throwing in the towel - they lead the league in runs scored and still have Jose Reyes and Michael Saunders coming back from injury soon. Additionally, Bautista and Encarnacion are unlikely to remain with the club beyond 2016 as they approach their mid-thirties, so freeing up some payroll and not having to worry about contract issues down the road would be a relief.
However, Blue Jays' general manager Alex Anthopoulos wasn't very transparent regarding the speculation.
"I would never talk openly about trading any of our players," he told Sherman. "At the same time these are two of the best position players in the game. Anything we do, we want them as part of the team. If we add, we don't want to affect the core and take something away from the middle of our order."
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal has some intel regarding the thought process of Toronto's front office, which may indicate it could take time before the club to make a drastic move.
"The Blue Jays are trying to determine just what they have internally before entering the trade market for pitching. One name to watch: Right-hander Jeff Hoffman, who will make his season debut in the Florida State League on Wednesday, one year removed from Tommy John surgery."
Toronto has already tried experimenting with their young group of pitchers and it hasn't really worked. Hutchison (6.17 ERA), Norris (sent down after a 3.86 ERA in five starts), Sanchez (4.17 ERA) and Miguel Castro (sent down after a 4.38 ERA in 13 relief appearances) have been unable to turn things around.
They need an established arm that can contribute right now and it's likely they'll only be able to get that if they reach into their surplus of offensive talent, starting with Bautista and Encarnacion.
