MLB trade rumors: 5 players the Blue Jays should acquire

4. Derek Holland

The Blue Jays hit the jackpot at the trade deadline with their left-handed acquisition last summer, Francisco Liriano. He went 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 10 appearances for Toronto last year, but is back to struggling with his command this year. The Blue Jays must upgrade their rotation if they are serious about sticking in the playoff race this year.

After struggling to stay healthy and pitch effectively the past three seasons, left-hander Derek Holland is having a resurgent 2017 with the Chicago White Sox. He is 5-6 on the year with a 3.79 ERA. The nine-year veteran has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his 13 starts and also has two more quality starts with only two earned runs allowed.

Holland’s ERA has been blown up closer to 4.00 thanks to two ugly starts that came back-to-back in early June. He allowed 14 runs and six home runs in only seven innings against the Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers on June 2 and June 8. Holland has the potential to go south very quickly on a bad day due to his propensity to give up the home run.

Toronto has been the place to go for starting pitchers without a dominant track record since 2015. Over the past three years, Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, and Liriano, have all found success with the Blue Jays and pitching coach Pete Walker. Holland could make a solid stretch-run rental for Toronto.