2. Do the Blue Jays need to acquire MLB or close-to-ready MLB pitching in any pre-July 31 dealings, or should they simply look for the best talent available and then try to package other players currently in the organization for help on the mound, either now or the off-season?
Jeff Blair (@SNJeffBlair):
Best talent – including a middle of the order hitter.
Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling):
You always take the best talent available, whether in trade, the amateur draft, on the international market, etc. I do think that if the Blue Jays had two options that they felt similarly about in terms of future value, one a hitter and one a pitcher, they would go with the latter. But they should never take a lesser package in terms of value merely to fill a positional need.
Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi):
Provided there isn’t a major disparity between the options, yes, absolutely, they must prioritize some near-term big-league pitching. Dealing away Marcus Stroman and Ken Giles without getting some arms back would be a major failure, because ultimately you need a pool of arms for a successful or pitcher or two to emerge. Why? Think of what the Blue Jays gave up for David Price: Daniel Norris, the prime prospect at the time, Jairo Labourt and Matt Boyd, whom the Blue Jays were least worried about. As it turned out, Boyd has been by far the best player Alex Anthopoulos surrendered that summer, underlining why volume matters when developing from within. The Blue Jays lack volume on the arm side. They have to fix that.
Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith):
Personally, I think you limit yourself if you only look at pitching that’s close to the major-leagues. What if there’s a better prospect at double-A, but he’s a shortstop? Or a higher-ceiling pitcher at low-A? I’d rather have those guys. Of course all things being equal, the Jays need pitching. I just don’t think we’re at the point of adding finishing touches yet. Until then, find the most value possible, regardless of position.
Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590):
It’s a dangerous game to make a trade for something you don’t really need with a plan to spin that thing off into something that you do really need down the road. J.P. Ricciardi did it, turning Shannon Stewart into Bobby Kielty into Ted Lilly in a span of four months in 2003, but it’s not something that happens very often. However, it’s better to take an “A” level return that doesn’t involve a pitcher than a “C” level return that does, just because you need pitching. A general manager can tie his hands by saying he’ll only accept a certain position in return in a deal. Very clearly, the Blue Jays need close-to-ready, high-level pitching talent, but they shouldn’t simply go out looking for the best pitcher they can get, if he’s not nearly as good as a position player they could acquire for the same price.
