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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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Jun 8, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Will Smith (13) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Will Smith (13) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Will Smith

Smith missed the start of the season due to injury, and has only pitched 17 innings this season. That said, he has been strong his first 20 appearances. He has posted a 2.12 ERA and has struck out about eight batter per nine innings this year.

He is also a left handed reliever which makes him a commodity on the trade market. Most teams need a left handed specialist out of the bullpen and the Blue Jays are not left out of that conversation.

They currently have two lefties in the bullpen, Aaron Loupe and Brett Cecil. Loupe has an ERA of 6, and Cecil has an ERA of 5.17. Smith would essentially come in and takeover for Cecil as the late inning left handed pitcher. Over this season, and the course of their careers Smith has been a better pitcher and therefore is a clear upgrade.

Smith is under team control until 2019, but that should be no problem for the Jays. Cecil will be a free agent this off-season and the team can view that as a swap out and an off-season upgrade. If they are planning to move on from Cecil this off-season they may as well start the process now and bring on a left handed reliever like Smith.

Next: 2. Boone Logan

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