Gone are all the barbs about the last-place finish in 2024 and the barrage of imaginary Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette trades. The Blue Jays are one game out of first place as of Wednesday afternoon, and they’ve got their sights set on a deep postseason run.
So having firmly established themselves as trade deadline buyers, the Blue Jays have to focus on improving the pitching staff. The rotation has a potential hole, but the bullpen, which is thin around closer Jeff Hoffman, might be the more pressing need.
One baseball writer thinks the Blue Jays could capitalize on their current momentum and pull off a huge trade for the best reliever on the market.
On Tuesday, Christopher Kline of FanSided named Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, a seven-time All-Star in the middle of a career year, as a “dream” trade target for the Blue Jays this month.
“The Blue Jays could use another late-relief heavyweight to ease the pressure on Hoffman. Look no further than their division rivals in Boston,” Kline wrote.
“If the Red Sox keep slipping out of contention, there’s no reason not to trade a 37-year-old Aroldis Chapman midway through a one-year contract. Chapman has been unbelievable for Boston this season — 1.32 ERA and 0.75 WHIP with 50 strikeouts in 34.0 innings — but his postseason volatility and age mean the Red Sox ought to consent to a trade, even if it’s a division foe like Toronto.”
The Red Sox and Blue Jays made a deal for catcher Danny Jansen at the deadline last summer, so the two sides aren’t averse to trading with each other. The bigger issue is whether Boston, which started the day 2 1/2 games out of playoff position, can be convinced to sell.
Chapman would be a huge addition for the Blue Jays, but the competition is bound to be stiff if he’s made available.
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