The Toronto Blue Jays have been the most surprising team in Major League Baseball this year. In a tough American League East, not many people had the Blue Jays leading by four games entering the last week before the trade deadline. They have overtaken the New York Yankees and are backed by great seasons from position players Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer.
Toronto also has one of the best rotations in baseball, but at the trade deadline, bullpen additions are what put teams over the top and turn them from contenders to World Series hopefuls. And for the Blue Jays, who are having a stellar regular season, they are hoping to make a deep run into October.
Blue Jays Land 0.65 ERA reliever Danny Coulombe
The Minnesota Twins are in free fall through the summer months this season. They are boasting one of the worst records in baseball since early June, and certainly need to heavily consider trading away what they can. Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton are likely to sell, but they have bullpen assets for days. In this trade prediction, the Toronto Blue Jays land Danny Coulombe from the Twins, which would anchor Toronto’s bullpen as one of the best. Aside from Brendon Little, the other two lefties in the Blue Jays bullpen (Justin Bruihl and Mason Fluharty) are sporting ERAs above 3.30, and Fluharty’s is over 5.00.
For Coulombe, he is having one of the best years of his career. In 27.2 innings this season, he has an ERA of 0.65 and a WHIP of 0.94. He could be a go-to guy for the Blue Jays down the stretch and in the playoffs against the opponent’s best left-handed hitters in their lineup.
It was reported today that the Twins are more likely to listen to offers for their rental players. Coulombe is on a one-year deal and is set to be a free agent after this year.
Twins’ Deadline Outlook
Steve Adams of MLBtraderumors.com provided some insight on what the Minnesota Twins’ deadline plans may be:
“Coulombe has been quietly terrific. He missed three weeks earlier in the season with a forearm strain but has shown no ill effects. His 0.65 ERA in 27 2/3 frames is the best in baseball among the 433 pitchers who’ve tossed at least 20 innings, and Coulombe has fanned 26.9% of his opponents against a 6.5% walk rate. He doesn’t throw hard (90.2 mph average fastball) and isn’t going to make it the whole season without surrendering a home run — he’s currently yet to do so — but there aren’t many better left-handed options on the market. He’s playing on a one-year, $3MM contract.”
For the Toronto Blue Jays’ deadline outlook, it doesn’t appear like they need much, but adding Coulombe would give them one of the best staffs in MLB. It would also likely only cost them a prospect or two, or a player like Tyler Heineman.
Expect Toronto to be active within the next month, but not overly aggressive because they don’t need much. But making an addition like Coulombe would greatly improve their bullpen, as he’s one of the best lefties available.
Blue Jays-Twins Trade Prediction Sends 0.65 ERA Southpaw Reliever to Toronto