What to Expect With Marcus Stroman.

With the trade deadline approaching on July 31st, rumours have begun to swirl around. Names like Mike Minor, Shane Greene, Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard have been thrown around, and arguably the most commonly heard name would be the Blue Jays own, Marcus Stroman.

If there is anything I know for sure, it's that the front office wants to move him as badly as he wants to stay. Stroman has on many occasions stated publicly that he wants to remain with the team, but the front office has yet to offer anything to him. The Jays are the only team Stroman knows, being drafted by them in the first round in 2012, and remaining with them for his whole career. He has gone through it all; first round pick, PED suspension, "franchise saviour," first playoffs in around 20 years, the wild card game, gold glove winner, and now an all-star. The fans love him, and he loves being here. He loves the team, he loves the fans, he loves the city. He has great relationships with his teammates, he is arguably the biggest fan favourite, and he loves the city so much he got the skyline tattooed on his midsection. Unfortunately, the front office doesn't show the same kind of love back.

When I first thought about a Stroman trade, I was quite upset. I thought he was going to be a Blue Jay for a long time. I thought it would be best to hold on to him, and sign him long term to be the face of the team. I was so sure that this was the right move... Until I started thinking about possible trade returns.

I've spoken to many Jays fans to gather opinions about their thoughts on a Stroman trade. Not a single person was in favour of moving him. Well, if you think like them, I'm here to change your mind. Lets start by talking about Stroman.

Marcus Stroman is currently 28 years old, and is making $7.4 million in 2019. He will be under team control until 2021, which makes him quite valuable. Currently, Stroman owns a 3.06 ERA, which is good for 6th in the AL, and the best among currently available pitchers. He is known for his energetic personality, which creates the ability to fire up a team. He is a great piece for contending teams to add for the final stretch of the season, and potentially the playoffs.

Last Friday at the game in Detroit, many teams had sent scouts to see Stroman pitch, reportedly including 2 scouts from the Yankees, a scout, and the head advisor from the Boston Red Sox, and representatives from the Braves, Phillies, Padres, Twins, Dodgers, Rays, and others. Going forward, I will be evaluating potential fits, and deals with each of the listed teams, looking to find the ideal trade partner, and give you an idea of some potential moves. I will only be covering the most likely trade partners, and the best ones. These teams will be the Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, Dodgers, and Rays.

Yankees

The Yankees are a team that I see as a favourable destination for Stroman, but not really the best fit for either team. Being honest, I was a little bit surprised to see the Yankees in the mix for Stroman. Not that they couldn't use another elite arm, but because they already have so much starting pitching. Guys like Domingo German (3.38 ERA, leading league in wins, and win percentage going 12-2), JA Happ (4.86 ERA), James Paxton (4.20 ERA), CC Sabathia (4.50 ERA), Masahiro Tanaka (4.00 ERA), with several MLB ready depth arms in Dave Hale, Luis Cessa, Chance Adams, Domingo Acevedo, and others. Plus, their ace, Luis Severino (who has been out due to injury the whole year) is expected to return in August. Don't get me wrong, they could definitely use another top of the line arm like Stroman, but I just didn't think they'd need him, and wouldn't have room. However, they are aggressively in pursuit of him, and it seems likely he ends up in pinstripes.

I took a look at the Yankees roster, prospects, and opinions of other baseball analysts. These are potential players the Blue Jays could get in a Yankees trade:

Estevan Florial: Florial is a 21 year old outfielder who is currently the number one rated prospect in the Yankees organization, and rated 46th in baseball. He is most well known for having a great arm, with some good raw power, and speed. Potential down the road for 25 home runs a year. This year he is struggling at the plate in high A, only hitting .231 with 4 home runs in 156 at bats. I honestly don't think of him as highly as most scouts, despite being a highly rated prospect, I genuinely wouldn't have much interest in him. He could definitely be an interesting player, but I have my doubts. The other thing is that he is an outfield prospect, which is huge for Toronto, but he is still quite some time away from making the bigs. Like I said, he is only in advanced A ball, and is struggling. I wouldn't expect him to hit the bigs for another 3-4 years, which isn't on the right timeline for the Vlad-Bichette-Biggio-Gurriel (VBBG) era.

Jonathan Loaisiga: Loaisiga is a 24 year old starting pitcher, who is rated the second best prospect in the Yankees system, and 95th in baseball. Loaisiga made his MLB debut last summer in New York, which is important for this trade. The Jays are looking for guys who are around the big league level, as I said with Florial, to match up with the VBBG era. He would provide much needed pitching help to a team who honestly really needs pitching. Loaisiga projects to be a mid rotation arm in the future, and is currently known for his fastball, and general control. My only concern here is injuries. Loaisiga has a history of significant injuries, and is even injured right now. The Blue Jays have lots of history with injuries killing playoff hopes, especially around the Reyes-Dickey era. I would hate to see this happen again.

Chance Adams: Adams is another 24 year old starting pitcher who is MLB ready. He is currently rated the 19th overall prospect in the Yankees system. Adams shows some promise in terms of being reliable. You generally know what you are going to get from him every time out. His 4.11 ERA in AAA this season shows him to be a good arm, but nothing amazing. He isn't an electric arm that will win CY Young awards in the future, but he could be a great 4-5 guy in the rotation, and is worth trading for. He reminds me a little bit of Estrada right now, but that could very easily change. Adams was a top prospect before a major injury, where he came back weaker than before. His velocity dipped, and he lost some control. If he could regain either of those back, I think he can be a pretty good pickup, and a near future rotation competitor. Wouldn't mind seeing him in the future behind Pearson, Borucki, and maybe Loaisiga.

Clint Frazier: Frazier is a 24 year old outfielder, who is a former top prospect. In 2019, Frazier finally broke out, and currently has a .283 batting average, with 11 home runs through 191 at bats in the MLB. Unfortunately for Frazier, the Yankees have one of the best, and most crowded outfields in baseball, featuring Stanton, Judge, Hicks, Gardner, and others, leaving no room for the flourishing prospect. Despite the great stats, the Yankees sent him down to AAA. Frazier was not happy with the decision, and had some comments for the media before grudgingly going back down. It is clear that the Yankees do not need him, and that he is not too pleased being a member of the Yankees, making him an ideal trade piece. He is also a great fit for Toronto, being their need for offensive outfielders. I was surprised not to see Frazier in more rumours with the Blue Jays. It is a great fit, and is hardly being discussed.

General Trade: In a trade with the Yankees, I think we really need to be able to get a lot out of this. We are trading a fairly elite young arm to a division rival, so we need to take as much as possible. I would really like to get an outfielder, and a pitcher or two to really solve the teams problems. I do prefer Frazier over everyone else, including Florial, so for this to happen, I need Frazier in a Jays uniform. I think it would be important to try and get Loaisiga too, even though it might be difficult to get. If we could manage to get Frazier, Loaisiga, and Adams, I think we would easily win the deal. It would be a very solid return. However, it seems more likely the team goes for one top dog (either Frazier, Loaisiga, or Florial), and then quantity over quality to try and fix the remaining holes in the organization.

Chances of becoming a Yankee: I see the odds being pretty high. New York has a lot that they can offer, and are being pretty aggressive. Plus, I think that they have some good fits for Toronto. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Stroman in pinstripes next week.

Trade Rating: I think this trade is solid. Not the best deal we could get, but solid. I wouldn't be upset with a deal here, as we get some pretty good pieces in return. I do think Frazier is a must however, and without him, would think much worse of this deal.

Red Sox

The Red Sox are a significant threat to the Yankees for Stroman. They are taking this extremely seriously, and seem to be the most interested team. As I said previously, The Sox sent their top special advisor, and a scout to see Stroman in his game against the Tigers. They are not a surprise team at all, as they were expected to be looking for starting pitching. Nobody would have seen this coming at the beginning of the season, but the Red Sox rotation has been one of the biggest let downs in baseball, potentially being the lead reason for their struggles, possibly resulting in a missed playoffs just one season after being named world series champs. Ace Chris Sale has a 4.05 ERA this season, and hasn't won a game at home since last summer. Steven Wright was suspended earlier this year for PEDs, and won't be eligible in the playoffs. Former Cy Young winner Rick Porcello carries an ERA over 5.60. Price and Rodriguez arguably have been the only players pitching to expectation this season, so you can definitely see the need for Stroman on this team.

The Red Sox are an interesting trade partner, as they have many assets to trade. After some deep evaluation, I have put together some players the Blue Jays might be interested in trading for:

Jay Groome: Groome is a 20 year old left handed starting pitcher, who is currently the 4th rated prospect in the organization. He is known for an incredible curveball, and reminds me a little bit of JA Happ. He is believed to have the potential to be a front line starter, and I personally would love to see him and Borucki dominate together in the future as an all-star caliber lefty duo. He is a former first round pick, and I see why. I like the potential in him, and this he would be an essential piece in a Jays-Red Sox Stroman deal.

Triston Casas: Casas is a first and third base prospect who is rated number one in the Red Sox organization, and 94th in baseball. He is only 19 years old, and has shown lots of raw power, hitting 17 home runs in just over 300 at bats, while maintaining a .259 average, which isn't bad. He is a player I see potential in, but I do have some concerns. First, he is only 19 and in single A. I don't like that he is years away from being on the team, and will mostly miss out on the years with Vlad, Bo, Cavan and Lourdes. Secondly, he plays first and third. Guerrero will be occupying third, leaving only first, where there will still be a competition. Tellez is set to be our future first baseman, and we have other prospects who might end up converting to first due to overcrowding in the infield too. Even though Casas is a promising prospect, I don't know if he would be the ideal return. If he would be included in a deal, that would mean the Jays would be prioritizing talent over organizational needs. I wouldn't be upset with this acquisition, but wouldn't be too thrilled about it either.

Tanner Houck: Houck is a 23 year old starting pitching prospect who is rated the 5th best prospect in the organization. He is known for his blazing 98 MPH fastball. He had some success last year in AA, pitching to a 4.25 ERA. My main concern however is that his batting average against was .270, which is pretty bad. Houck is currently in AAA. I feel like he is being a little bit rushed, and would send him down a level if it was up to me. Either way, he is still close to MLB ready, which is big. I keep stressing the importance of being near MLB ready to fit in with the current Vladdy era. I would say he is at most 2 years away, and would expect a debut next September (2020), or earlier.

Alex Scherff: Scherff is a 21 year old starter. You likely haven't heard his name before, and it is for good reason. He is only in single A, and is having little to no success there, with an ERA over 5 last season. He is still rated the 20th best prospect however. I have been paying close attention to Scherff for a while now, and he is a guy that I would love to add to the team. After last years struggles, I think he is a buy low candidate with monstrous potential. Sure, he had a bad year last year, however, in 2017, the year he got drafted, it was a different story. He was drafted out of high school, where he put up video game type numbers. This kid won high school player of the year for the state of Texas, which is possibly the best baseball state. He dominated with 15 wins and no losses, including a 0.73 ERA and 4 no hitters. It is impossible to not see the potential in this young pitcher. He won't come at a high cost, and is worth the risk for sure.

Bobby Dalbec: Dalbec is a 24 year old third baseman who is rated the second best prospect in the Red Sox system. Dalbec is a great source of power, has a great arm, is already in double A, and is expecting to make his debut next year. The same problem rises here as with Casas however, as he is a third baseman, and would be difficult to squeeze into our already talented and potential filled infield. With his great arm, there is potential to make a move to the outfield, but it wouldn't seem like a great idea to have 2 converted outfielders in the future in Dalbec and Gurriel. This is player where the Jays would just be trying to get the best players available.

Chances of becoming a Red Sock (hopefully this is the singular of Sox...): This is another team that I see a very high chance. I don't think this is one of the better deals, but I believe that the Red Sox want Stroman so badly that they would overpay, and beat out any competition. Even though it might not yield the best prospects for Toronto, I see the Red Sox being the most likely team to acquire Stroman, just because they are willing to outbid their competitors, no matter the cost.

Trade Rating: I'm not a huge fan of this. Sure, we can get some decent pitching, and believe me, I would love to see Groome as a Jay, but this trade just doesn't do enough. We need outfielders badly, and have more than enough depth in the infield, yet the best prospects the Sox can offer are infielders. This is too big a problem for me. Plus, there are better prospects available from other teams. This would be a huge quantity over quality haul. I would require Groome to be in this deal, and would also ask for Scherff. I think we would need one of either Dalbec, or Casas, and many other mid-low end prospects. It would also be nice to see some MLB ready players too, someone like Marco Hernandez. For anyone wondering, I do think this is too much for Stroman, but I do believe that the demand for Stroman will drive the price up around here, which is why I'm suggesting such high prices. Like I said earlier, I expect the Red Sox to overbid here.

Twins

The Twins have been a surprisingly good team this season. Nobody really expected such a breakout year. Players like Jorge Polanco and Jake Odorizzi have stepped up, and good signings like Nelson Cruz and Jonathan Schoop have propelled them into the division lead, looking like real contenders. The team has been loaded with power throughout the lineup, but one struggle has been pitching. The rotation consists of Jose Berrios, and Jake Odorizzi, who are performing at all-star levels, as well as Michael Pineda, Martin Perez, Kyle Gibson, and others, who have been sturdy, but not much more. The Twins don't just want to be a playoff team. They want to be a contending team, and to do that, they need to improve those last 2-3 guys in their rotation. Stroman would be a big piece towards achieving that goal.

The Twins are one of the teams I would be extremely excited about trading with. I've known their farm system pretty good for quite some time now, and have even watched many of the players in person, so I've got a great idea as to how some of these guys will develop. Lets take a look at some potential players:

Alex Kirilloff: Kirilloff is one of the players I've watched a few times. He is a 21 year old outfielder who is the second best prospect on the Twins, and the 12th best in all of baseball. Kirilloff is an amazing contact hitter who also has shown some pop in his bat. He has a nice smooth swing, and is a left handed hitter, which is somewhat rare among Jays prospects, and could be useful. Last year in single A, Kirilloff showed extreme success, hitting an incredible .362. This year, Kirilloff was promoted to double A, where he is not doing as well as last year, but still very good, hitting .284. The numbers show he is a great player, and from what I've seen in person, he will be a star one day. He would be an amazing piece to get for Stroman. Would fix our outfield problems, and be a great contact bat, potential 2 hitter behind Bichette in the future. Plus, his MLB ETA is set at next season, meaning he would fit well with the Jays top prospects right now. Perfect fit.

Royce Lewis: Lewis is another player I was able to watch multiple times in person. Absolutely gifted player. Lewis is a former 1st overall draft pick, who is rated the best prospect in the Twins organization, and the 7th best prospect in baseball. Lewis is a shortstop, and centerfielder. The Twins are developing him at short, but many have said he would make a better center fielder, which would be ideal for the Jays. Despite some regression this year, Lewis is a fantastic contact hitter, with average power, a good glove, and lots of speed. I believe that he is extremely similar to Bo Bichette, and that they have the same play styles, almost exactly. Lewis will be a special player one day. Only problem is that many people see this same thing, meaning Lewis will be a difficult prospect to get. If need be, the Jays might have to add Giles into a Lewis trade, but it could be worth it. He is only 20, yet his MLB ETA according to MLB.com is set at next year. Perfect fit for the timeline, just like Kirilloff.

Brusandar Graterol: Yet another player I've seen in action. Graterol is a 21 year old starting pitcher, who is the organizations 3rd best prospect, and he is ranked number 49 in baseball. Graterol has a fantastic fastball, as well as an above average slider, making for a great 1-2 punch. He pitched well the night I watched him start for Fort Myers last year, with clean mechanics, and great velocity. He has a chance to be a great pitcher. I compare him to Luis Severino of the Yankees. He is currently dominating double A with an incredible 1.89 ERA, and has 5 wins and no losses in 47.2 innings. He is likely to make his debut either this September, or some time early next season. He could be a game changer for Toronto in the future, leading the rotation.

Jordan Balazovich: Balazovich is a 20 year old right handed pitcher who is rated the 5th best prospect in the system. Balazovich is also rated the 98th best prospect in baseball. In regular class A, he maintained a strong 2.18 ERA (where he held batters to a .195 average against), which was enough to get him a promotion to high class A, where he currently has a 3.02 ERA (and is holding batters to a .201 average against). His numbers look good across all levels, and he really shows promise. Plus, there is a nice hidden bonus. Balazovich is from Mississauga. This means he would probably embrace being a Jay, and perhaps stay in Toronto for years to come. He likely won't be MLB ready for another two years or so, but it might be worth it, as he wouldn't be the headlining player.

Akil Baddoo: Baddoo is a 20 year old outfielder who is rated the 13th overall prospect in the Twins system. He is a speedy contact hitter currently playing at the high A level. Despite some struggles, he remains a well rated prospect who shows promise. The Twins have been pushing defensive improvement on Baddoo to make him a full time center fielder, and he has been making good progress. I would compare him to Jarrod Dyson in the future, but with a little bit more pop in his bat. An above average fielder who makes good contact, with some power, and lots of speed.

Griffen Jax: Jax is another player I had the opportunity to watch, and he really did impress. He looked like a very promising player. He is currently 24 years old, and pitching in double A, where he has a 2.44 ERA. Like most Twins prospects I've listed, he is also surpassing expectation, and playing exceptionally well. He is a player who I could envision as a 3 or 4 guy in the rotation in the future. He will be MLB ready by next year, which is big. The thing that impresses me the most is his control for a young pitcher. This guy is able to pick his spots, and hit them. That has become more and more rare in the era of high velocity pitchers. I think he will develop very well, and will be a great pitcher in the league. As for now, I believe he is an underrated prospect, which makes it all the more worth it.

Chances of becoming a Twin: The Twins definitely have the best tools to make this trade happen, but I don't know how willing they would be to get into a bidding war against the Yankees and Red Sox with their top prospects. Despite interest, they haven't been very aggressive so far, which makes me wonder if this is really a likely possibility. It is very possible, but doesn't seem like a likely outcome, despite having one of the strongest farm systems in baseball to play with.

Trade Rating: I think this would be my favourite team to work with. They have so much talent and promise. I would love to get Lewis or Kirilloff or Graterol in a Jays uniform. Realistically, if we went after Lewis, it would be a difficult deal to make happen. The Twins wouldn't want to let go of one of the best prospects in baseball unless it was really worth it. The Jays have the assets to make it happen, but I'm not sure they would be willing to overpay for a prospect, especially considering what the Yankees and Red Sox might be willing to pay for Stroman. It might be the best outcome, but an unlikely one. More realistically, and likely my favourite, would be for the Jays to include Giles, and likely yield Kirilloff, Balazovich, and perhaps Baddoo, and/or Jax. These would be great deals, and possibly the best the Jays will get. We just have to hope that this is something the Twins are willing to offer.

Dodgers

The Dodgers weren't a team I fully expected to be in the race, as their rotation is one of the strongest in baseball, featuring one of the greatest starters of the 2000s in Clayton Kershaw, one of the best young stars in Walker Buehler, a Cy Young candidate in Hyun-Jin Ryu, a reliable starter in Kenta Maeda, and a 2018 all-star in Ross Stripling. However, the Dodgers, like the Yankees and Red Sox, can never have enough, and always want more. Despite it seeming like a weird or greedy mentality, it has been working, as they are coming off back to back world series appearances.

I have been looking into potential fits for Stroman in the Dodgers rotation, and I might have found a good one. Despite being a good starter, the Dodgers love Maeda out of the bullpen, and a Stroman trade would be perfect to make the work. The Dodgers would be a good fit for Toronto too, as they have many good pitching and outfield prospects. Let's take a look:

Dustin May: May is a 21 year old starting pitcher who is known for his fastball and curveball. He is the 3rd overall prospect in the organization, and is ranked number 49 in all of baseball. He was also a third round selection in the draft of 2016. May looks like an extremely promising prospect, and like a vital piece to a Stroman-Dodgers trade. This year he pitched well in double A, maintaining a 3.74 ERA. If that's not good enough for you, how about this: Since being promoted to triple A, he has a 2.53 ERA. He is killing it in triple A, which always shows promise, and is vital in making him a major trade piece. Being that he is dominating triple A means that he could be ready to make a debut as soon as this season, and will fit perfectly in the Vlad-Bichette-Biggio-Gurriel (VBBG) era. He looks like a future ace, which is something Toronto really needs, making him the most valuable prospect the Jays could possibly acquire right now.

Dennis Santana: Dennis Santana is another good pitching prospect. He is the 6th best prospect the Dodgers have, and is 23 years old. One thing that makes Santana an impressive prospect is the break on his pitches. He is known for lots of sinking action on his fastball, and having a hard breaking slider. Both of these pitches are effective in drawing ground ball outs. Unfortunately, Santana has struggled to find control this year, leading to a rough year in double and triple A. This might actually be a good thing. It is a good buy low scenario. If Toronto could just find a way to straighten out his control, he has a chance to be an elite arm in the rotation. For now however, he looks like more of a bullpen arm, which could still be extremely useful to the Jays.

DJ Peters: Peters is a 23 year old outfield prospect who is ranked 10th best prospect in the organization. Peters is known as a great power hitter, but has begun to show potential as a great contact hitter too. In 84 at bats in AAA this season, Peters has been lighting it up, hitting .345 with 8 home runs. These are Guerrero like numbers, and seem to be flashing tons of potential. I would compare his play style much to Grichuk, but I do believe he could be better. Another important factor is that he fits the VBBG timeline well, as his MLB eta is set at 2019. He also fills a major organizations need, as he is an outfielder. With a good arm, he would be set to be our right fielder of the future.

Julio Urias: Urias is a former top prospect of the Dodgers, but after a few rough years in the bigs, people are slowly starting to give up on him. In 2016, the lefty showed some promise with a 3.39 era in the majors. He followed that up with a poor season in which he could only get a 5.40 era. In 2018, he struggled in the minors, and only ended up getting into 3 games. People began to give up on the prospect once deemed "the next Clayton Kershaw." Finally in 2019, Urias began to break out, carrying a 2.34 ERA through 57.2 innings, which is quite strong. Fans finally began to get excited about him again, that is until he was arrested for domestic battery half way through the season. Now, all that seems appropriate is getting a fresh start, which is exactly what the Blue Jays can offer. He still looks like a great prospect with lots of potential, and could be easy to take off the Dodgers hands. After all, he could be an amazing pickup at only 22 years old.

Jeren Kendall: Kendall is a 23 year old outfield prospect who is rated the 15th best prospect in the organization. Kendall is most well known as a plus fielder with great speed. He looked like a top prospect, and an all around player until he began to significantly struggle with the bat this year in only single A. The power is still there, but his average is a concerning .174 through 230 at bats. That's quite worry some for an already 23 year old prospect who already appears like a future late bloomer. He could be a buy low option.

Chances of becoming a Dodger: I wouldn't rate this as a likely destination. Sure, the Dodgers are willing to pay high prices, and sure they have the prospects to make it happen, but being that they aren't desperate for a starter, I could see them turning to an older rental player, such as Madison Bumgarner, or Mike Minor.

Trade Rating: I would like to complete a deal with the Dodgers. They are a team that would be willing to pay top dollar, and have great prospects to offer. If the Jays could somehow get May and Urias in a deal, it might just be worth taking. It's a great return, and could solidify our future rotation completely. A rotation featuring Pearson, Borucki, Urias, May, and a possible breakout prospect, or a free agent signing would look very dangerous. I would love to see it.

Rays

The Rays are having another under the radar year, where they are looking like a playoff team, but hardly get attention, even by their own fans, setting a record low attendance with less than 6,000 people at a game this year. So, how do they keep a good team? Money ball approach. They will do anything for players who are paid low, have team control, and either look solid, or on the verge of a breakout. Examples of this are Corey Dickerson, CJ Cron, Logan Morrison, etc. Stroman would be a good fit for the team to solidify their playoff hopes (and hopefully draw more fans), and he fits their kind of description. The Rays have some great young talent, and are very capable of pulling the strings and making a trade happen. Most importantly, it would keep Stroman away from division rivals like the Yankees and Red Sox. The Rays would also love Stroman due to his team control until 2021, and his very reasonable pay.

Like I said, the Rays have many great prospects to offer. Their farm system is filled with elite arms, but they unfortunately can't say the same about their rotation. One year after winning a Cy Young, Snell has struggled to return to form. After a few injuries here and there, the Rays turn to starting pitching as their main goal for improvement going into the trade deadline. Lets take a look at some players that the Jays might target:

Jesus Sanchez: Sanchez is a 21 year old outfield prospect who is ranked 3rd in the Rays organization, and 31st in all of baseball. Sanchez has spent most of this season in double A, playing to expectation. He held a .275 average with 8 home runs in 287 at bats. He has since been promoted to triple A, where he has struggled, hitting for a .190 average. Personally, I think he has a very bright future, but is being rushed by the team after being added to the 40 man roster this offseason. I believe if he spent the rest of the season in AA, and next year in AAA, he could be a great player come September 2020, where he should be making his debut. He is known as a great contact hitter with average power, and a pretty good glove. I would likely compare him to the Reds outfielder Jesse Winker, but with a better lefty righty balance.

Mathew Liberatore: Liberatore is an elite pitching prospect, ranking 4th in the organization, and 44th in all of baseball. The lefty is currently 19 years old, and has an MLB eta of 2021. He has spent 2019 in single A, and has looked really good, maintaining a 2.60 ERA with 6 wins a only 1 loss. He is an extremely solid pitcher who the Jays could really use to fill out their rotation in the future. For a 19 year old, he is progressing extremely quickly, and could even start next year in AA ball.

Shane Baz: Baz is a 20 year old starting pitcher who is the 8th best prospect in the system. Don't let that number fool you. The Rays have a really deep farm system. For most teams, including the Jays, he would sit in the 3-5 range. He is the 90th best prospect in baseball. He is a former first round selection of the Pirates who is known for a great balance of skill across 5 pitches: His fastball, cutter, slider, curve, and change up. Each of the pitches are quite good, no one significantly better than another. He has fantastic velocity, but struggles with his control. His MLB comparison could be Luis Severino from the Yankees. Baz is a player I really like, and would love to see for Toronto. He has lots of potential, and I believe he will be a very good player. Potentially a front line starter.

Shane McClanahan: McClanahan is a 22 year old lefty who currently ranks 11th in the Rays system. He is known for great velocity, hitting around 92-96 with his fastball. He has a great secondary pitch in his slider, although it is a little bit inconsistent. So far this year, he has pitched in single A, and advanced class A, having lots of success in both. In single A, he pitched for a 3.40 ERA. In advanced class A, he currently has a staggering 0.94 ERA with 5 wins and no losses. Through both levels he has managed to keep his batting average against below .200, which is incredible. He looks like an underrated prospect to me, and I have a hard time believing that he isn't a top 100 prospect. He looks like a future gem, and an all around great pickup. This is a guy that I would want to see in a trade. He could really become a big part of our rotation in the future.

Chances of becoming a Ray: This might come across as surprising, but I believe that the Rays have a good chance of winning Stroman. They have significantly better prospects than the Yankees and Sox, and have the farm system to compete with the Dodgers and Twins. Plus, something tells me that the Rays might just be more aggressive than usual here, knowing that Stroman is their kind of player, and that if they miss out, he will head to one of the American League powerhouses, and division rivals.

Trade Rating: I would be a fan of a Rays trade. They've got some decent outfield prospects, and great pitching. If they Jays can manage to pull together a return around either Sanchez or Liberatore, and get McClanahan, then they've done quite well.

Overall, the Jays have many options to choose from. Teams such as the Padres, Astros, Brewers, and Phillies might be brought into this too (as they have rumored interest, and have sent scouts), which present a huge variety of options, and hopefully start a bidding war. I would personally love to see Stroman go to either the Rays, or the Twins, as they are my favourite returns. I would love to hear the Jays acquired Kirilloff or Liberatore. Those would be game changing moves for the future. I wouldn't be upset with an Urias deal from the Dodgers either, as he is perfect for the VBBG timeline. All I know is that I can't wait to see what really happens. Hopefully Atkins and Shapiro won't blow this one like they did the Donaldson trade, or numerous others. Many have said that their futures with the team rely on this move. So does the future of the team as a whole. This is one of the most important moves the team will ever have to make. They have a real opportunity right here, and I hope they make the most of it.