Pitching Pair Floated as Trade Candidates for Blue Jays: ‘A Fix Is Needed’

As of the beginning of the 2024 season, the Toronto Blue Jays are in last place in the American League East, far behind what was anticipated. There is a good deal of blame to distribute. With 83 combined strikeouts, the all-star trio of

George Springer, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has just 89 hits

total. The Blue Jays rank among the bottom 10 in both slugging percentage

and batting average as a club. However, in comparison to the 2023 campaign, the

pitching staff may have disappointed the most.

According to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, “The Blue Jays’ pitching staff—rotation

and bullpen—was elite, which helped them win 89 games and make the

postseason last year.” “In baseball, they gave up the sixth-fewest runs per game.”

It is the contrary this year. Pitching, particularly the bullpen, has proven to

be a liability. How could that be fixed? Fixing it is necessary, however it’s easier

said than done. GM Ross Atkins needs to take action now.

Recommending what such a fix might look like, Axisa urged the Blue Jays to explore a trade with the Miami Marlins,

who appear ready to listen for offers on nearly any members of the roster.

“Is it too early to explore the trade market? No. No it is not,” Axisa added. “Miami righty Anthony Bender and lefty

Andrew Nardi have combined for a 7.07 ERA, but the under-the-hood numbers

are very strong, and there are reasons to believe they’ll be better moving forward.

Both are high-end bat-missers. There are relievers to be had.”

The Toronto Blue Jays Could Use Bullpen Reinforcement Via Trade

Up to this point, the Blue Jays bullpen has the highest ERA in the big leagues at a whopping 5.23 and the second-fewest strikeouts at just 106.

Closer Jordan Romano, who was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, has a 4.70 ERA in seven games finished so far. Erik Swanson, who pitched in 69 games last season with a 2.97 ERA, currently has a 15.63 ERA in just 6.1 innings this year. Tim Mayza’s 1.52 ERA from 2023 has ballooned to a 6.92 ERA this season.

So, it stands to reason that the Blue Jays could use some reinforcements to their relief corps. As Axisa noted, Bender and Nardi haven’t been doing much better in the ERA department up to this point, but like much of the Blue Jays’ existing bullpen, they have had recent success that suggests a change of scenery might unlock better performance

Neil Raymond wrote for Marlin Maniac, “(Nardi’s) last full season back in 2023, he produced a 2.67 ERA/3.60 FIP, with 11.5 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 63 games and 57.1 innings pitched.” “RHP Anthony Bender threw 80.2 innings in 82 games and had a 2.90 ERA/3.57 FIP, with 9.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. Recently, Bender and Nardi have both shown encouraging outcomes.

The Toronto Blue Jays Are Stuck Between Buyer and Seller Status This Season

Given the recent blockbuster trade to offload Luis Arraez, it seems the Marlins would be ready to deal both relievers. But the bigger question might be whether the Blue Jays want to build back toward contention this season, or become sellers themselves.

“The Jays continue to underperform,” Ken Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic. “Their payroll is a franchise-record $225 million. Their farm system is meh. And with many of their big names approaching free agency, the team is at a crossroads.”