MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Blue Jays should make

4. Trade for Francisco Liriano and Joe Smith to the Twins

Reunions are fun. Marco Estrada makes sense for the Brewers, and likewise, Francisco Liriano makes sense for the Twins.

Outside of Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios, Minnesota’s starting rotation has struggled. The Twins have also had more than their fair share bad luck in terms of injury, with Phil Hughes and Hector Santiago both on the disabled list (and Hughes on the 60-day DL, meaning he’s out until at least September, if not all year).

Liriano, like Estrada, has an ugly ERA. In 15 starts, the 33-year-old lefty is 5-5 with a 6.04 ERA, 64 strikeouts and 39 walks in 70 innings. Also like Estrada, Liriano has pitched better than his baseline statistics indicate, having posted a slightly better 4.92 FIP.

Truthfully, Liriano hasn’t been very good this season. He’s allowed a career high 10.0 hits per nine innings, and has walked 5.0 hitters per nine, which would be his highest for a full season since 2012. But, Liriano has also had success over the course of his 12-year career, and provided a spark for the Blue Jays late last year after he was acquired from the Pirates.

Simply put, because Estrada and Liriano are both in the final years of their contracts, and both are 33, the Blue Jays would be happy to trade them. Because of their scary ERAs, neither pitcher is likely to command much in terms of a return, but clearing them from the starting rotation would allow the Blue Jays an opportunity to evaluate starters for 2018.