The Toronto Blue Jays are enjoying a quality 2022 season. However, they also happen to be in MLB’s deepest division. They sit in third place as of this story’s publication as a result. They are only one half of a game behind the Red Sox, but they trail the Yankees by 14 games.
So can the Blue Jays realistically catch the Yankees? It’s unlikely, but not out of the question. And they could drastically boost their chances by adding the correct pieces ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline.
Let’s take a look at 3 players the Blue Jays need to trade for ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline.
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3 moves Blue Jays must make ahead of 2022 MLB trade deadline
Luis Castillo has emerged as the ace for the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander owns an era of 3.09 in 2022 and is building up his stock ahead of the trade deadline. He is expected to be dealt given the Reds rebuilding approach.
And the Blue Jays would be wise to acquire him. Toronto’s pitching staff has been a letdown in 2022. They signed Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi in free agency and extended Jose Berrios after acquiring him last season. Although Gausman has been productive, the remainder of the pitching rotation has struggled mightily.
The Blue Jays are 21st in ERA, 18th in WHIP, 22nd in batting average against, and 22nd in home runs allowed.
So there is no denying the fact that Luis Castillo would benefit Toronto’s rotation.
David Robertson
David Robertson is in the midst of a career renaissance. The long-time Yankees reliever has taken over closing duties for the laboring Cubs. Despite Chicago’s struggles as a whole, Robertson has excelled in the windy city.
The right-hander owns a superb 1.72 ERA to go along with 11 saves. He would be a tremendous fit in a number of bullpens around baseball. But the Blue Jays need to get ahead of the curve and trade for Robertson.
The Blue Jays’ bullpen lacks depth. They have a few talented arms within their relief corps, but there's room for improvement overall. David Robertson’s veteran experience would be vital to their success moving forward.
Brandon Drury
Brandon Drury is another player who would be a perfect fit for plenty of teams. Teams such as the Yankees and Dodgers may look to acquire Drury. The versatile Drury can play multiple positions and has already clubbed 16 homers this year.
The Blue Jays don’t lack firepower from an offensive standpoint. They rank 3rd in batting average, 2nd in OBP, 2nd in slugging, 5th in runs scored, and 5th in home runs. So does this elite offense truly need to trade for a position player?
Adding a utility option such as Drury provides an extra layer of depth. It also allows the Blue Jays to rest their stars on a more consistent basis.
Sure, the Blue Jays may not need a middle of the order bat. But depth is key to success in MLB. This rings true in the postseason without question. So the Blue Jays need to avoid writing off offensive acquisitions despite their lineup’s success.
Final thoughts
The Blue Jays have World Series aspirations in 2022. But they need to be aggressive on the trade market ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline. Otherwise, the Yankees will steamroll them in the playoffs.
Toronto's season result very well may be decided by what they do in July.
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