Blue Jays Telling Teams They Are Willing To Deal Expiring Contract Players

[Brock Beauchamp]

According to Mark Feinsand's latest MLB.com report, the Blue Jays are telling teams they are willing to trade any players on expiring contracts, though they are not yet willing to part with players with team control beyond 2024.

The Blue Jays have a slew of players who will be free agents at the end of the season: center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, DH Justin Turner, relievers Trevor Richards & Yimi Garcia, and most interestingly to the Twins, Yusei Kikuchi.

Kikuchi is having a solid season with 101.1 innings pitched, a 101 ERA+, and is making only $10 million this season. Relievers Richards and Garcia might also be of interest to the Twins depending on the healthy return of Brock Stewart in the next couple of weeks.

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[Mike Sixel]

I'm in on Kikuchi for the right price. 

[dxpavelka]

6 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm in on Kikuchi for the right price. 

I'm on anybody for the right price.

[JD-TWINS]

15 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm in on Kikuchi for the right price. 

What’s reasonable for a lefty with experience but slotted now as a 4th guy……. on a pretty decent staff. ……he can help Twins get to the finish line as a starter and could possibly slot into relief in October.

2 months of him to get us stronger.

What’s that worth….generally? Not putting you on the spot here, just wondering what people think about this type of acquisition in prospect capital. I don’t know what may be reasonable?……..I would think Toronto just wants a reasonable piece as they aren’t going anywhere and save $3.3M. Competition for him is what drives the price up is my assumption.

[Otaknam]

Another starter like Kikuchi makes sense if they want to move Paddock to the bullpen to reduce his innings after TJ surgery. That would strengthen the BP if Paddock throws upper 90s for an inning or two like he did last year. They can’t count on Festa at this point.

[LambchoP]

I'd take Kikuchi. Give him Paddacks spot in the rotation and have Paddack pitch in relief. Strengthens our rotation and bullpen. Would be nice to have a lefty starter on the staff too. I would rather them go after a starting pitcher with at least another year of control however. I'm not too impressed with Paddack being a starter next year, and as good as SWR has looked so far, I'm expecting some regression soon once the league has had a good look at him...

[chpettit19]

I think all trades should be based on the chance to improve their odds of postseason success. I think they definitely need a shutdown lefty in the pen as I don't trust anyone currently in the org to be a postseason lefty arm, but do they need a lefty starter? I don't see that as that important.

Teams with at least 50 wins right now wRC+ vs Lefties - vs Righties:
Philly: 117 - 109
Cleveland: 117 - 104
Baltimore: 123 - 116
Yanks: 103 - 119
Dodgers: 128 - 116
Brewers: 103 - 112
Braves: 111 - 94
Red Sox: 98 - 105
Royals: 97 - 95
Mariners: 94 - 94

Twins: 126 - 111

7 of 11 teams (including the Twins) have better numbers against lefties than righties. 1 is the same. And 3 are better against righties. I don't see the need to get a lefty starter. Get a lefty out of the pen better than Thielbar, Funderburk, and Okert, but if you're bringing in a starter just make sure they're a legit playoff starter.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Wild that the Jays put Kiermaier on revocable waivers today.

[Greglw3]

In the past, I would have been interested in Kiermeir but not now. The only one of the group that looks like he could help is Yimi Garcia.

[bean5302]

On 7/11/2024 at 5:15 PM, Brock Beauchamp said:

Wild that the Jays put Kiermaier on revocable waivers today.

I mean, he's produced 0 WAR this year so it seems likely the Jays just want him off the books if they can swing it. Open it up to everybody.

One free Kevin Kiermaier, slightly used, comes with $4MM salary remaining.

[SwainZag]

Kikuchi fits the bill on what the Twins really should be after.  Expiring contract, can put together a dominate outing and is left handed.  His remaining salary would run $4.4M or so, it just depends on what the Jays asking price is on him.

[Cory Engelhardt]

55 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

Kikuchi fits the bill on what the Twins really should be after.  Expiring contract, can put together a dominate outing and is left handed.  His remaining salary would run $4.4M or so, it just depends on what the Jays asking price is on him.

Dan Hayes mentioned him by name today too. I have a feeling there is some smoke here regarding Kikuchi. Also curious what the ask would be. 

Playoff wise, he seems like a really good option for a starter or for a bulk innings option. 

[DJL44]

MLB trade rumors did a good analysis of the Blue Jays today. They're about $10-15M over the competitive balance tax threshold. Trading Turner and Kikuchi and Yimi Garcia would get them under the threshold. That's why they tried to give away Kiermaier this week. Adding Kikuchi now would put $4.7M on the Twins payroll, which should be manageable. The Jays are motivated to dump salary so he will go to the highest bidder.

I know someone else said a lefty isn't that important because other playoff teams have hit lefties but the Yankees are one of the teams where it helps to have a LH starter (20% worse vs LHP). The Yankees have a .525 OPS against Kikuchi in 63 plate appearances this year. Kikuchi has also been good vs the Royals and Ober gets destroyed by the Royals. Baseball playoffs are all about matchups.

[cmoss84]

Starting to think they trade Vlad. Man...he would be expensive...but so much fun. 

Erod, Festa, and Keuschall?

[cmoss84]

I know people are going to say no need for another 1B/DH. But would provide amazing depth for last 60 game push...allowing some rest. Also...2025 lineup would be stacked. Something like:

2B/LF Castro

SS Correa

3B/DH Rolls Royce

RF/LF Wallner (Max?)

DH/1B Vlad

3B/1B/DH Miranda

UTIL Lee

CF Buck (Max?)

C Jeffers