Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Potential Trade Partners for Tyler Anderson

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays need to solidify the back end of their rotation if they want to compete in the American League East. So far, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Steven Matz have looked outstanding. But aside from them, the rest of their rotation is rather thin.

Robbie Ray has a strong 1.47 ERA but has walked more batters than he’s struck out in 10 innings. Ross Stripling, who was originally in the rotation, surrendered 7 earned runs in two starts and 8.1 innings before being placed on the injured list. Stripling isn’t the team’s only starting capable player on the injured list either.

T.C. Zeuch is also on the 10-day injured list and top pitching prospect Nate Pearson is another arm who hasn’t been healthy yet this year. Thomas Hatch was another potential starter but is currently on the 60-day IL. Sure, they could move Tanner Roark back into the rotation, but that wouldn’t be ideal as he has surrendered 41 earned runs in 54.2 innings so far in his Blue Jays tenure.

This leaves Trent Thorton, Tommy Milone, Anthony Kay, and the aforementioned Roark to fill in the spots that the injured arms have left behind. Like the Angels, the Jays have a strong lineup that houses the likes of Vlad Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and eventually George Springer when he returns from his own IL stint.

If Anderson continues his hot streak the Jays will almost assuredly calling the Pittsburgh Pirates. After all, Ben Cherington is more than familiar with the Jays as he was their vice president of baseball operations before becoming the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.