The Toronto Blue Jays stunned the baseball world by acquiring Troy Tulowitzki early Tuesday morning, further bulking up the league's best offence.
Could pitching help be next?
According to FOX Sports' Jon Morosi, the Jays are now working to get a deal done for a starter, with a couple of options still on the table.
#BlueJays still talking with #WhiteSox about Samardzija. He's scheduled to pitch at 7:10 pm ET tonight.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2015
#BlueJays working to trade for a starting pitcher. Ian Kennedy one of the many options they're considering.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2015
Samardzija, 30, is 7-5 with a 3.91 earned-run average and a 1.260 WHIP in 20 starts with the White Sox this season. He is scheduled to hit free agency this off-season after earning $9.8 million in 2015.
Kennedy, also 30, is 6-9 in 2015 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.318 WHIP over 18 starts with the Padres. He is earning $9.85 million this season and is scheduled to hit free agency this coming winter.
ESPN's Jim Bowden, meanwhile, dropped even more starters on the list of potential targets.
Nationals continue to work on Papelbon; Cardinals continue to work on Adam Lind; Blue Jays continue to work on Latos/Haren; Tigers on Leake
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowden_ESPN) July 28, 2015
The Miami Marlins' Latos is a pending free agent who owns a 4-7 record with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.245 WHIP over 16 starts. Dan Haren - a Marlins teammate of Latos - is 7-6 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.098 WHIP over 20 starts. Haren, too, is a pending free agent, though the 34-year-old has two separate post-season trips on his resume, including 4.2 scoreless innings in the 2004 World Series while with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Miami enters Tuesday night 17 games under .500.
Morosi says the team's acquisition of the All-Star shortstop - which also netted the team reliever LaTroy Hawkins at the expense of shortstop Jose Reyes and pitching prospects Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Jesus Tinoco - is one that has been brewing since the winter.
Interesting: Sources say Tulo trade talks between Rockies and Blue Jays started during the 2014-2015 offseason.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2015
Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos held media availability Tuesday afternoon to address the move and how it will change the club. He reiterated the above timeline, saying the pieces of the deal "really started to move at the beginning of July" after initial winter talks centred around the exchange of Tulowitzki for Reyes. Anthopoulos stressed that the inclusion of Jeff Hoffman in the deal "got things going".
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, did their part to welcome Tulowitzki to Toronto, taking to Twitter shortly after the deal was finalized on Tuesday.
Toronto welcomes Tulowitzki! Jerseys now available at #JaysShop: http://t.co/YfBVPv7zXw pic.twitter.com/tTdbPzgp4D
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 28, 2015
Anthopoulos offered immediate praise for Tulowitzki on Tuesday, stressing that he solidified a crucial position on the diamond.
“We’re getting the best shortstop in baseball in our minds. Those opportunities don’t present themselves.” - @BlueJays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
— MLB (@MLB) July 28, 2015
More details to follow as the day unfolds. The Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline is Friday at 4pm et.
