Could the Toronto Blue Jays trade for Kyle Kendrick?

Jul 20, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick (38) reacts after walking Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (not pictured) with the bases loaded scoring Braves center fielder B.J. Upton (not pictured) in the third inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

The early July trade of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland Athletics greatly altered the market for starting pitching across Major League Baseball. One of the teams that was reportedly interested in one of those aforementioned arms was the Toronto Blue Jays and a new CSN Philadelphia report indicates that the team is still in the market for pitching.

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One of the names tied to the Jays? Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Kyle Kendrick.

"The right-hander’s name has quietly floated around in trade rumblings for several weeks. Word is the Toronto Blue Jays might have him on their radar if they strike out on bigger names in the trade market. The Jays, interestingly enough, had a scout stop in as Kendrick took the mound for the Phillies against the Atlanta Braves at rainy Turner Field on Sunday afternoon."

The right-hander struggled in his latest outing, getting shelled by the first-place Atlanta Braves, allowing six runs over five innings in the 8-2 loss. Control was an issue for Kendrick, who has walked 35 batters in 125 innings of work this season, with two walks and two hit batsmen coming in the loss over the weekend. While the team could still trade Kendrick, who has only pitched for Philadelphia in his big league career, now the question of whether or not he can even keep his rotation spot with the team is very prominent.

The right-hander is 4-10 with an earned run average near 5.00 in 20 starts this season, leading many to question the team’s options in that rotation spot.

"A more fitting question surrounding Kendrick is whether he’ll keep his spot in the rotation. A numbers crunch forced the club to send David Buchanan back to Triple A after he pitched seven innings of one-run ball against Milwaukee on July 10. He is a pitcher Phillies officials would like to see more of over the final two months of the season. Veteran Jason Marquis has an out in his minor-league contract at the end of the month and could get a look in Philadelphia, as well."

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