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MLB Trade Deadline: 5 trades Blue Jays should make

By Parker Hurley

Jul 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Rich Hill (18) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Rich Hill (18) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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How can the Blue Jays increase their chances of winning a World Series in 2016?

The Blue Jays seem to have a good grasp on where they are in a terms of a championship window. This is a team with the majority of their roster on the wrong side of 30 years old. In terms of free agents next year, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, RA Dickey, Michael Saunders and more may be on the move next year.

With Bautista at 35 and Encarnacion at 33 it would be really hard to invest in both of those big names for the long term. Therefore they know this might be their best chance to win a championship. The Jays currently sit 1.5 games out of the division and hold a 2.5 game lead on the Houston Astros for the second Wild Card spot.

Still, this team has questions on their current roster. Jose Bautista has been on the disabled list, and it has exposed a bit of a hole in their outfield depth, and their first base ability from Justin Smoak. They also have a bullpen that ranks in the bottom five of the American League in OPS, and blown saves.

Their rotation has been a huge positive, but it has underlying issues as well. Their All-Star and emerging ace Aaron Sanchez has a soft innings cap. He is at 125 innings pitched as of today, and that is already a career high for him. The Blue Jays have discussed moving him to the bullpen, but really will explore all options.

Then there is Marco Estrada and his ridiculous BABIP. BABIP is batting average for balls in play; it is what hitters would be hitting if there were no strike outs. Estrada is on pace to break the record for lowest BABIP in a season with a .193. There is just no way that someone can continue to allow balls to be hit, but remain that successful. Greg Maddux was the king of pitching to contact and he had a .281 BABIP.

This is going to come back to hurt the Blue Jays, and it really means that they absolutely have to be buyers because they could use a hitter, a reliever, or a starter.  What is available on the market and for how much it costs will dictate how the Jays are able to fill their needs.

With that said, here are the five best trades for the Blue Jays to make

Next: 5. Rich Hill

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