The Toronto Blue Jays went on a 10-game winning streak and ended up taking first place in the American League East away from the New York Yankees. They now lead by 2 1/2 games.
Everything has been clicking lately for Toronto. However, they have some needs to address.
The Blue Jays are in need of an arm to help bolster their rotation. Fortunately for them, there are plenty of arms that will be available at the trade deadline.
When answering a trade deadline question, Jim Bowden of The Athletic listed several arms Toronto could target. One of them was Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly.
“The Blue Jays’ front office has made it clear to opposing GMs that starting pitching is their priority at the trade deadline and they are kicking the tires on all the starters that could get moved this July. I particularly like the fit of Merrill Kelly, Mitch Keller or Jeffrey Springs with Toronto,” Bowden said.
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The Diamondbacks haven’t confirmed what their deadline strategy will be. They haven’t decided whether they’ll buy or sell, but if they sell, Kelly is a logical trade candidate.
The veteran right-hander is a free agent at the end of the 2025 season and is putting together a strong walk year. In 19 starts, Kelly is 7-5 with a 3.41 ERA and a 2.7 WAR.
The 36-year-old has also pitched 111 innings and has recorded 107 strikeouts. The Blue Jays would certainly benefit from having him in their rotation.
He can be trusted to start a postseason game, as he was a key factor in Arizona reaching the World Series in 2023. But this could help Toronto pull away in the AL East.
It will be interesting to see how the Blue Jays operate in the coming weeks.
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