The Toronto Blue Jays are weighing trade possibilities to shore up their starting pitching staff, but according to a report from CBS’ Jon Heyman, the big names you’ve heard attached to the club in rumours over the past month or so might not be the team’s preferred targets.
While there was a belief that Alex Anthopoulos is, or would like to be, at the front of the line of GMs shopping for Chicago Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija, Heyman’s piece suggests that the Jays are more likely to be pursuing a back-end rotation starter instead.
Samardzija reportedly turned down an $85 million contract extension from the Cubs, leading to speculation that he will be moved, but Chicago and Toronto have yet to exchange recent formal proposals. Instead, Heyman writes that it’s more likely the Jays target a rental starter such as Jason Hammel.
One stumbling block in a potential Samardzija deal appears to be the Jays’ unwillingness to part with multiple top prospects, which is precisely what the Cubs have been said to ask for. The latest speculation suggested Cubs GM Jed Hoyer would seek top prospect Aaron Sanchez in addition to lefty Daniel Norris and outfielder Dalton Pompey, yet one source told Heyman there would be “zero chance” the Blue Jays would accept such a deal.
While the Blue Jays, like many clubs, like what Samardzija offers, another concern is their inability to sign him to a long-term extension once his contract expires at season’s end. Heyman also reports that the Blue Jays have been scouting the Phillies as potential trade partners. However it is also likely that the likes of Cole Hamels or Cliff Lee would be out of Toronto’s price range.