Despite an offseason filled with well-regarded additions, the Blue Jays still appear thin in one key area: left-handed bullpen help. Toronto could opt to start the year with its current options, but there may still be a chance to acquire a quality southpaw through a trade before Opening Day.
On Friday, ESPN’s David Schoenfield reveal St. Louis Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero as a potential fit for the Blue Jays and proposed a mock one-for-one deal that would send utility player Davis Schneider to St. Louis in return.
“The Jays have lefties Eric Lauer and Brendon Little in the pen, but Lauer doubles as rotation insurance (and last year’s comeback may have been a fluke anyway),” wrote Schoenfield. “Little’s wobbly command imploded in the postseason and made him unusable by the end of the World Series.
“Romero would give Toronto a little more certainty from the left — and potentially two excellent lefties if Little finds the strike zone again.”
Romero, 29, is coming off a career year in which he posted a 2.07 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 61 innings. He also picked up eight of his 12 career saves. With just one year left before he hits free agency, it would make sense for the Cardinals to move him now after dealing away four All-Star contributors thus far this offseason.
Schneider’s fit for the Cardinals makes a lot of sense, as he’s cost-controlled, right-handed, and fits into a potential outfield platoon role. His flexibility to play second base would also help out as young infielders Thomas Saggese and JJ Wetherholt attempt to establish themselves as big-league regulars.
A lot of teams could use Romero, assuming the Cardinals are willing to move him now rather than waiting until the July trade deadline. But as Schoenfield suggests, the Blue Jays may have the right combination of need and championship aspirations to rise to the occasion.
