The Toronto Blue Jays sit at 19-24, a far cry from where they expected to be after their World Series run. But when injuries tear through your rotation like this, it’s hard to find any rhythm.
The Blue Jays have watched their starting pitching get decimated. Cody Ponce became one of the first casualties when he sprained his right ACL in late March.
That injury required season-ending surgery, though he should be ready for spring training. It’s particularly tough timing for Ponce, who’d just signed a three-year, $30 million deal in December after three seasons in Japan. His March 30 start against the Rockies – where he got hurt – marked his first MLB appearance since 2021 with Pittsburgh.
Ponce isn’t alone, either. Several other arms remain on the injured list, leaving the rotation without any consistency.
Time for a Bold Move
That’s exactly why Toronto needs to make a trade. Not just to stabilize the rotation, but to inject some energy into a clubhouse that’s clearly struggling.
Sandy Alcantara makes perfect sense.
“The Blue Jays have the offensive talent to be very good, but they need to overcome all of these pitching injuries. In response, the Blue Jays should give the Marlins a call about the former Cy Young Award winner. He’s no stranger to trade rumors. If the Marlins opt to move him, the Blue Jays should be front of line,” SI’s Patrick McAvoy wrote.
Adding Alcantara would be a major step forward. The 2022 Cy Young winner has already shown flashes of that form this season, and his presence alone would change the entire dynamic of Toronto’s rotation.
Now, let’s be realistic – it’ll probably take more than one move to completely turn this season around. But Alcantara would bring the kind of energy and talent that could get things moving in the right direction.
The Blue Jays have the offensive pieces in place. What they need is stability on the mound, and Alcantara could provide exactly that.
