Blue Jays GM reveals position at top of trade deadline wish list

The Toronto Blue Jays might not be having the kind of 2026 season they were hoping for so far, but thanks to a very wide-open American League Wild Card, they still have a good chance to make the postseason.

Of course, to ensure they get a spot in the postseason, they will need to add a bit of help this summer by the August 3 trade deadline. This roster just isn't good enough right now, and they really could use some help.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins revealed that there is one position atop the team's wish list for the trade deadline: starting pitching.

Blue Jays trade deadline wish list revealed as starting pitching

"Speaking to media at Rogers Centre, Ross Atkins says starting pitching is likely atop Blue Jays' wish list at the trade deadline," Nicholson-Smith reports. "Atkins says he likes Jays' current group but has interest in more because you can never have enough starters."

The 39-39 Blue Jays might be 7.5 games out of the AL East lead, but in the Wild Card, they are one game up for the third and final Wild Card spot.

In such a spot, buying at the trade deadline is very much in play. If they are buyers, then it appears starting pitching will be a top priority.

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Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Trey Yesavage are great starters, but with Shane Bieber coming back from injury, Patrick Corbin's struggles, and Max Scherzer's injury history and struggles, it's clear that pitching is a need for this team.

Finding a good starter might be a little tricky. Freddy Peralta of the New York Mets, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, and Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins are the big-three starters who could be on the move this summer.

But if the Tigers climb back into the postseason hunt in a wide-open AL, and the Mets begin to make up some ground, or the Twins decide to hold onto Ryan, finding a good starting pitcher by the deadline will be difficult.

More MLB news:

• Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani might not be able to pitch during MLB All-Star Game
• Phillies reportedly turn down Bryce Harper's outfield offer to help at trade deadline
• Giants are ‘hopeful ‘ they can trade Matt Chapman by MLB deadline
• Angles can demand more in trade for Reid Detmers than Tigers can for Tarik Skubal
• Giants are 'pessimistic' they can trade Rafael Devers or Willy Adames