The Toronto Blue Jays’ need for pitching couldn’t be any more apparent.
They have the most prolific lineup in baseball, but their pitching staff needs reinforcements: at least one starter, maybe two (and yes, the bullpen could also use support).
We’ve been hearing about the big names for months now. Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Jonathan Papelbon are great pitchers, and presumably GM Alex Anthopoulos has considered pursuing them.
But history suggests the Blue Jays will look beyond the obvious options, so here’s an entirely speculative look at potential targets around MLB:
RENTALS
Mat Latos
RHP | Age: 27 | ERA: 4.90 | IP: 75.1 | Ks: 67
Under contract through: 2015 | 2015 salary: $9.4 million
Since returning from the disabled list, Latos has a 3.31 ERA thanks, in part, to a recent spike in fastball velocity. He could be a smart buy-low pickup.
Hisashi Iwakuma
RHP | Age: 34 | ERA: 5.22 | IP: 29.1 | Ks: 20
Under contract through: 2015 | 2015 salary: $7 million
Iwakuma returned with an ugly start after missing two months with a lat injury, but he rebounded the second time out, shutting down the Angels for eight innings while striking out six and allowing just three hits.
Yovani Gallardo
RHP | Age: 29 | ERA: 2.62 | IP: 113.1 | Ks: 79
Under contract through: 2015 | 2015 salary: $14 million, of which Rangers pay $10 million
It seems unlikely that the Rangers would sell, but Gallardo would be appealing should Texas struggle toward the end of July.
Dan Haren
RHP | Age: 34 | ERA: 3.24 | IP: 111 | Ks: 79
Under contract through: 2015 | 2015 salary: $9.775 million
He’s not the frontline arm he once was, but Haren presumably wouldn’t cost a top prospect and he can still get outs.
Mike Leake
RHP | Age: 27 | ERA: 4.08 | IP: 114.2 | Ks: 79
Under contract through: 2015 | 2015 salary: $10 million
Leake’s proven himself as a solid starter year-in and year-out. Unfortunately his hitting skills (five home runs, .219 average in 194 plate appearances) would go to waste in the American League.
Scott Kazmir
LHP | Age: 31 | ERA: 2.49 | IP: 101.1 | Ks: 96
Under contract through: 2015 | 2015 salary: $13 million
Kazmir left his last start with a triceps injury, but he’s on track to make his next start, and those numbers are pretty good.
CONTROLLABLE ARMS
Andrew Cashner
RHP | Age: 28 | ERA: 4.10 | IP: 109.2 | Ks: 97
Team control through: 2016 | 2015 salary: $4.05 million
The Padres may simply keep their pitching, but GM A.J. Preller is nothing if not busy and bold.
Cashner offers plenty of velocity, owns a career 3.43 ERA and remains controllable beyond 2015. All reasons he’ll appeal to contenders, and all reasons the Padres may keep him even if they re-tool.
Tyson Ross
RHP | Age: 28 | ERA: 3.34 | IP: 110.1 | Ks: 118
Team control through: 2017 | 2015 salary: $5.25 million
The same logic applies to Ross, who’s a potential building block for San Diego. He generates tons of swings and misses, throws hard and limits hits. Two flaws in his game: he’s walking too many hitters and doesn’t control the running game well, with 25 stolen bases allowed already.
James Shields
RHP | Age: 33 | ERA: 4.01 | IP: 116.2 | Ks: 131
Under contract through: 2018 (2019 option) | 2015 salary: $4.05 million
Not only does Shields have a career-best strikeout rate, he has had success in the AL East. Still, the Padres might not want to trade the right-hander so soon after signing him, and he gets expensive after 2015 with annual salaries of $21 million from 2016-18.
Jesse Chavez
RHP | Age: 31 | ERA: 3.40 | IP: 100.2 | Ks: 84
Team control through: 2016 | 2015 salary: $2.15 million
The Blue Jays claimed Chavez off of waivers in 2011 and he posted an 8.44 ERA in a brief stint with Toronto the following season before being sold to Oakland. But he’s been excellent for the Athletics for the last three years, posting a 3.52 ERA over the course of 300-plus innings during that time.
Mike Fiers
RHP | Age: 30 | ERA: 3.96 | IP: 100 | Ks: 99
Team control through: 2019 | 2015 salary: $513,000
The Brewers control Fiers for a while, and he continues generating a strikeout per inning, so there’s little reason for Milwaukee to trade him for anything other than an excellent return.
KEEP DREAMING
Sonny Gray
RHP | Age: 25 | ERA: 2.04 | IP: 123.2 | Ks: 108
Team control through: 2019 | 2015 salary: $513,000
Why would the Athletics trade an affordable, controllable starter who leads the AL in ERA? It wouldn’t make much sense, which is why assistant GM David Forst has said he’s “not going anywhere,” but Oakland has traded controllable players like Josh Donaldson before, so rival teams can dream.
Jose Quintana
LHP | Age: 26 | ERA: 3.69 | IP: 114.2 | Ks: 101
Under contract through: 2018 (options through 2020) | 2015 salary: $3.4 million
Quintana is following up back-to-back 200-inning seasons with yet another productive campaign.
There’s no way the Cleveland Indians would part with a promising, controllable starter like Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar, right? Probably not. But they could use a right-handed bat if the Blue Jays want to get really creative.
