The Toronto Blue Jays are showing “strong interest” in Milwaukee Brewers starter Mike Fiers, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
No deal is close, and Milwaukee’s not especially motivated to move the right-hander, Rosenthal reported Monday.
Potential Blue Jays targets: Beyond the big names
The Blue Jays are exploring trades for starting pitching in the hopes of bolstering a rotation that ranks 24th in MLB with a 4.35 ERA. GM Alex Anthopoulos routinely checks in on starting pitchers around the league, and has said controllable pitchers are preferable to rentals, so it’s no surprise to see the Blue Jays linked to Fiers.
However, “strong interest” suggests the Blue Jays are especially intrigued by Fiers, who has a 3.79 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 107 innings this season. The 30-year-old has a career strikeout rate of more than one per inning despite throwing a fastball that averages just 89 mph. He mixes in a curveball and change-up, generating more fly balls than most pitchers while limiting walks.
Mike Fiers, Milwaukee Brewers
RHP | Age: 30 | ERA: 3.79 | IP: 107 | Ks: 106
Team control through: 2019 | 2015 salary: $513,000
Drafted: 22nd round, 2009 | Debut: September 14, 2011
The Brewers control Fiers through 2019 and he remains affordable, so there’s little reason for Milwaukee to trade the 2009 22nd-round pick for anything other than an excellent return.
The Blue Jays are now 47-47 after taking two of three from the Rays, while the Brewers are last in the NL Central with a 41-52 record. Milwaukee could also listen on the likes of Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Gomez, Adam Lind and Jean Segura leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
