Riding an 11-8 record this month, the Toronto Blue Jays are back in the thick of things in the American League East (39-34, 2 1/2 games out of first) and looking to add at the trade deadline.
Of course, offense isn't much of an issue for the Jays, who are tied for fourth in the AL with 339 runs scored. Instead, "pitching will be the area we look to improve," GM Ross Atkins told Sportsnet.ca in a video interview.
Atkins notes that the returns of Brett Cecil (torn lat muscle) and Franklin Morales (left shoulder fatigue) will be a boost, but the team will "have to stay agile" on the market seeing that health is never a guarantee. Both relievers began rehab assignments at Class A Advanced Dunedin on Tuesday and could return before the end of the month.
Blue Jays starters have posted an impressive 3.76 ERA as a group, but the impending move of Aaron Sanchez (7-1, 3.35 ERA) to the bullpen in order to control his innings will leave a big void in the rotation. Meanwhile, the bullpen owns a collective 4.16 ERA and could use some help if Cecil and Morales show rust in their returns.
