The Toronto Blue Jays have long been looking for pitching and after talks with the Ervin Santana went nowhere earlier in the offseason, names like David Price, Jeff Samardzija, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Trevor Cahill and Brandon McCarthy could be options for a deal for the team heading out of Spring Training and into the season, as Opening Day is around the corner and the free agent signed with the Atlanta Braves.
The Blues Jays were mentioned quite a bit in rumors about Santana, but he didn't want to lower his asking price and the team did not want to give up a pick by bringing him in on a deal, since he had draft pick compensation tied to him. Santana had a solid season with the Royals last year and now he is with the Braves and the Blue Jays could opt for a new option in trade talks, as names like Price, Samardzija and Porcello are expected to be available.
The Tigers could be a solid option, as they have Scherzer and Porcello and while they are very unlikely to trade Scherzer, the team has yet to sign him to an extension and after winning the Cy Young last year, you know his agent Scott Boras is going to look for huge money. The team traded Doug Fister because of this and while they feel a deal will get done, Scherzer was mentioned in trade rumors in the offseason and if he asks for too much, the Jays could swoop in.
Samardzija and Price are the likely players to move and they each signed on year deals with their teams before the season started. Samardzija was mentioned numerous times in trade rumors this offseason, while many expected the Rays to deal Price by now. Samardzija is younger and he has a nice fastball and has put together two solid years and that could lead to a trade. Last season he went 8-13 with a 4.34 ERA and he had over 200 strikeouts and 200 innings pitched and was one of a few pitchers to do that and that could make him attractive on the market.
Samardzija signed a $5.3 million deal before the season and now he could hit the open market next year as a free agent in his prime and teams could look at that as a reason to try and trade for him as well. Price signed a deal for one year with the Rays and he is very likely to get trade at the deadline and many felt he could have been moved at the winter meetings, but he said no on a deal to the Seattle Mariners and that ended things. Price was signed to a $14 million, one-year deal and now he has the chance to put together another solid season at the age of 28 for himself and he could be the top target after going 10-8 with a 3.33 ERA last season.
The Jays need more pitching and after losing Santana to the braves these could be solid options, but those teams won't deal unless the price is right and the Jays could sweeten things with some prospects.