The American League East is typically the best division in the MLB. This season, every team has a flaw, keeping the five teams close in the standings. As of Wednesday morning, the first-place Baltimore Orioles are only 5.5 games up on the cellar-dwelling Tampa Bay Rays.
The Toronto Blue Jays were last year's trending pick to win the World Series after making two blockbuster trades to acquire pitcher Mark Buehrle, pitcher Josh Johnson and shortstop Jose Reyes from the Miami Marlins and former Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets. After a rash of injuries to the team, the Blue Jays quickly fell out of contention.
Heading into this season, many quickly doubted the Blue Jays based on the previous year. Now, 45 games into the season, Toronto has a record of 24-22 and is half a game behind the Orioles for the division lead. They also sit half a game back for one of the two Wild Card spots.
This is a season the Blue Jays can take advantage of an average A.L. East. With no team separating themselves from the pack, each team is capable of going on a winning streak to take control. Toronto is near the top of the American League in many of the offensive categories. In American League rankings, the Blue Jays have scored the fourth most runs, have the fifth most hits and have the most home runs.
What has kept the Blue Jays around the .500 mark is their pitching. Aside from Mark Buerhle, who is tied for the most wins in the majors with seven, the starting pitchers have had unremarkable seasons. Dickey has been inconsistent and boasts an earned-run average over four. Brandon Morrow, who was counted on to be one of the top three starters in the rotation, can't stay healthy and is currently on the 60-day DL with a torn tendon in his hand.
In the off-season, Toronto was unable to address this position. It's time to turn to the trade market to make a run at the division.
Enter Jeff Samardzija.
Samardzija, currently headlining the Chicago Cubs' rotation, will be a free agent at the end of the season. As the Cubs are in a constant state of rebuilding their team to win their first World Series since 1908, they need to make the most out of their assets. The Cubs can't let Samardzija walk for nothing and expect to rebuild quickly.
A quick look at the 29-year-old right hander's record leads to question why he would be an important piece for a team trying to make the playoffs. The 0-4 record is not pretty. That can be chalked up to the futility of the Cubs. They are 10.5 games back of first place in the National League Central division. In nine starts through May 20, he sports a 1.62 ERA. Teams have a .222 batting average against the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver.
Samardzija would be a good addition to the Blue Jays rotation, especially when paired with the season Buerhle is having. Being able to throw out a dominant left-handed pitcher before a right-handed pitcher is great balance for the top of the rotation.
During the off-season, Samardzija was linked to the Blue Jays in trade rumours. Various reports involved minor league prospect Aaron Sanchez, currently with Toronto's AA affiliate. The ideal situation for the Blue Jays would be a deal without including one of their organization's top prospects. Chicago will most likely be looking for a big haul of prospects in return for their best pitcher, but without a guarantee of a contract extension, some teams might balk at the idea.
Another prospect off the table should be Marcus Stroman, who has seen time at the big-league level already this year. A first round pick in 2012, Stroman was in AA by the end of the 2013 season. He has played in AAA, as well as making five appearances out of the Blue Jays' bullpen early in May. Stroman was recently sent down after a couple of rocky appearances to get more work as a starter. He has shown the ability to perform at the major league level, but needs more seasoning in the minors. With Stroman being so close to being a constant in the Blue Jays' rotation, Toronto should be reluctant to part with one of their top prospects.
While general manager Alex Anthopoulos has denied any rumours concerning Samardzija, the Blue Jays should take the opportunity while it's available. Other teams will be sniffing around the Cubs to try to pry Samardzija away. Teams like the New York Yankees, based on their $471-million spent on off-season acquisitions, are trying to win now. They have the money to entice Samardzija to stay in New York and have been historically willing to make trades that sacrifice the future. Also, in Derek Jeter's last season, the Yankees are probably hoping to send him into retirement with another World Series title.
The Blue Jays haven't made the playoffs since they won the World Series in 1993. Trading for Samardzija will not guarantee them a playoff spot, let alone a championship. However, it will go a long way to breaking the second-longest active playoff drought in the league.
