Blue Jays-Athletics trade proposal sends veteran lefty to Toronto

The Toronto Blue jays are having a strong season and hold the second American League Wild Card spot by two games.

At 44-37, Toronto is just three games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.

The offense is middle of the pack in most categories, but pitching could be Toronto’s downfall if they don’t upgrade.

Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman have been solid, but Bowden Francis has been knocked around this season and Max Scherzer just made his first start in nearly two months.

If the Blue Jays are buyers (they should be), they should focus their attention on pitching upgrades.

Zachary Howell of ClutchPoints devised a trade proposal that would send a veteran left-hander to the Blue Jays to boost their World Series odds.

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The Blue Jays would receive left-hander Jeffrey Springs from the Athletics in exchange for right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown (Blue Jays No. 15).

“Springs is an intriguing option for contenders around the league. The 32-year-old has eight years of Major League Baseball experience, but he has never been to the postseason,” wrote Howell. “At his best, he is a third or fourth starter on a great team, providing his manager with a consistent innings eater who can relieve pressure on the rest of the rotation.”

Springs, 32, signed a four-year, $31 million contract extension the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023 that includes a $15 million club option for 2027. He was traded to the Athletics in December and has pitched well after a bumpy April.

Springs is 6-6 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 17 appearances (15 starts). Bringing Springs in could be what gets Toronto over the hump and into the postseason.

Watts-Brown is a 23-year-old starter in Double-A New Hampshire. He is 1-5 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 14 starts this season.

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