MLB Trade Deadline: 30 players most likely to move

26. Joe Smith, RP, Toronto Blue Jays

The pitcher with arguably the most boring name in baseball, in one of the most overlooked positions on the field, is Blue Jays middle reliever Joe Smith. However, the 33-year-old right-hander has very interesting pitching mechanics, and a stat line that will also likely be of interest to contending clubs at the trade deadline.

Smith, who joined the Cubs at the 2016 deadline and posted a 2.51 ERA in 16 games with Chicago, signed a one-year, $3 million free agent deal in Toronto over the winter. So far, so good, for the Blue Jays as Smith has posted a 3.41 ERA and 2.27 FIP with an eye-popping 47 strikeouts in 31.2 innings across 34 games. Smith has struck out 13.4 hitters per nine innings, and has a 36.7 percent strikeout rate this season, both of which are career highs. His 2.27 walks per nine and 6.3 percent walk are among the best of his 11-year major league career as well.

Because Toronto did not make a long-term commitment to Smith, and because the club entered this weekend series with the Astros five games under .500 and 4.5 games out of the AL Wild Card race, there’s a good chance the Blue Jays will be sellers at the trade deadline. Contenders looking to bolster their bullpens, such as the Nationals, Rays and Twins make the most sense to enquire about Smith, but any team would likely be willing to acquire the veteran reliever for a low level prospect.