Latest news with #Toronto Blue Jays
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Three Blue Jays takeaways at the MLB trade deadline: Arms for a playoff run
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays entered the trade deadline resting atop the American League East with one of the best records in baseball, 64-46. But July 31 division leads don't count for much. The Jays brought in four big league players before the 6 pm deadline, hoping to build on early success and achieve the organization's first deep playoff run with the core of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. They added relievers Seranthony Domínguez and Louis Varland, starter Shane Bieber, infielder Ty France and catching prospect Brandon Valenzuela. Here are three takeaways from Toronto's deadline moves. Despite early-season injuries and many spot starts, the Blue Jays' rotation made it to the deadline largely stable. That stability hasn't translated into dominance, though. Eric Lauer is the only regular Jays starter with an ERA under 3.80. The starting group, overall, entered Thursday with the seventh-highest ERA in baseball and the Jays' team ERA (4.27) sits 22nd. Advertisement The 2023 Texas Rangers are the only team in the last 15 years to win the World Series with a below-average team ERA. Stable pitching can get you through a regular season. Great pitching wins in October. Acquiring Shane Bieber, who is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, is a move to raise Toronto's pitching ceiling. There's clear risk — he hasn't pitched in the big leagues yet this season and already suffered a setback during his recovery in early June. But, if healthy, Bieber can be the playoff-calibre starter the Jays needed. Toronto entered the deadline looking for serious bullpen upgrades. The team's relief group has been solid this year, buoyed by collective breakouts from Brendon Little, Yariel Rodríguez and Braydon Fisher. But the bullpen still ranked about league average entering Thursday, with a 3.94 ERA. Seranthony Domínguez and Louis Varland will help that group, no doubt. They solidify a bullpen that's churned through arms in the final spots over the last few weeks and can contribute in late innings. But is the bullpen good enough? Other top contenders truly loaded up on relievers. The Phillies added flamethrower Jhoan Duran. The Rays brought in Griffin Jax. The Padres acquired Mason Miller and held onto Robert Suárez. The Mets traded for Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley. The Yankees brought in Pirates closer David Bednar, San Francisco's Camilo Doval and Colorado righty Jake Bird. The Jays were in on Duran and had interest in Miller before he went to the Padres, a league source said. The Miller ask was described as 'monumental,' with the top of Toronto's farm unable to compete with the massive haul that ended up bringing Miller to San Diego — few systems could've. Those proven shut-down relievers would've significantly eased the burden on Jeff Hoffman. Toronto's new closer has converted 25 of 29 save opportunities this year, but homer issues and have his ERA sitting at 4.76. Advertisement Perhaps the bullpen is now deep enough to help Hoffman by committee. If the Jays get there, October will provide the answer. Ahead of Thursday's deadline, the Jays informed other teams they were open to moving young MLB position players to address deadline needs, a league source said. In acquiring Domínguez and Bieber, Toronto drew exclusively from the farm, sending out pitching prospects Khal Stephen and Juaron Watts-Brown. But as deadline day wore on, they turned to aforementioned MLB-level talent. On top of sending out Triple-A pitching prospect Kendrys Rojas, who would've needed to be placed on the 40-man roster this winter, general manager Ross Atkins traded outfielder Alan Roden and infielder Will Wagner in the final two deals of Toronto's deadline. One of the Jays' biggest strengths amid this 2025 run to the top of the AL East has been significant depth in the upper minors. Players like Wagner, Roden, Joey Loperfido and Jonatan Clase have all pushed up to the top level and helped the Jays win games. On deadline day, at least part of that same group helped the Jays load up with needed weapons for the stretch run. (Photo of Ross Atkins: Turchiaro / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Nathan Lukes' 3-run homer helps the Blue Jays avoid a sweep with a 9-8 win over the Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes (38) rounds the bases past Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, left, after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Baltimore. BALTIMORE (AP) — Nathan Lukes capped Toronto's five-run seventh inning with a three-run homer, and the Blue Jays held on for a 9-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday to avoid a four-game sweep. Toronto's AL East lead was down to four games after dropping the first three of this series against the last-place Orioles. And the Blue Jays fell behind 3-0 early in the finale before rallying. Bo Bichette delivered a two-run single off Yennier Cano (1-6) to put Toronto ahead 6-5 in the seventh. Three batters later, Lukes came up as a pinch-hitter and connected off Cano. The Orioles answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but with the bases loaded and one out, Braydon Fisher came on and struck out Cedric Mullins and pinch-hitter Ramon Laureano to preserve a one-run lead. Seranthony Domínguez pitched a scoreless eighth one day after being traded from the Orioles to Toronto. Then Jeff Hoffman finished for his 25th save in 29 chances. Myles Straw also homered for Toronto, and Ryan O'Hearn and Jordan Westburg went deep for the Orioles. Mason Fluharty (4-2) got the win in relief. Finishing July with 18 wins. The MOST in the American League 🗣 #lightsupletsgo — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 30, 2025 Mullins, playing perhaps his final home game for the Orioles with the trade deadline coming up Thursday, reached well over the wall in center field to rob Ali Sanchez of a two-run homer in the sixth. At the time, that kept the Orioles up 5-4. Baltimore's Jackson Holliday was retired in the eighth when his dribbler started foul, then kicked back into fair territory while he remained at the plate. First baseman Ernie Clement fielded it for an easy unassisted putout. Key moment Fisher got Mullins swinging, then he got the call on a borderline pitch around the outside corner on a 3-2 delivery to Laureano that ended the seventh. Key stat Straw and Joey Loperfido had three hits apiece for Toronto. Up next Both teams are off Thursday. Toronto hosts Kansas City on Friday, when the Orioles face the Cubs in Chicago. Noah Trister, The Associated Press
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mullins robs Sánchez of home run in what may have been the outfielder's last home game for Orioles
If this was the final home game for Cedric Mullins in Baltimore, he gave the fans at Camden Yards one more spectacular highlight in center field. Mullins made a leaping, backhanded catch well above the wall to rob Ali Sánchez of a home run in the sixth inning Wednesday, although the Orioles ended up losing anyway, 9-8 to the Toronto Blue Jays. 'Just timing. Understand where the wall is, understand kind of how you have to gauge it, and timing it up,' Mullins said. 'It's not like I really practice it. Just kind of a feel.' The trade deadline is Thursday, when the Orioles have the day off. Mullins was outstanding in the field during this homestand and went 9 for 20 at the plate, including a single and a double Wednesday. However, in his last at-bat Wednesday, he struck out with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, and the Orioles never did get the tying run home. Mullins is in his eighth major league season, all with the Orioles. His 30-30 campaign in 2021 was a bright spot during a terrible season in Baltimore, and he remained a factor as the Orioles became a playoff team in 2023 and 2024. Now Baltimore is in last place, so he's one of several players who wait to find out if they'll be dealt at the deadline. 'I think everyone in this clubhouse is going to have a big sigh of relief when it's over, regardless of what comes down,' Mullins said. On Sánchez's drive, Mullins made a running leap, then used his left hand atop the wall to propel himself even higher before snagging the ball in his glove, landing and beginning his jog back to the dugout — all seemingly in one motion. 'I wish he would stop doing that," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "That one was really impressive, and he made it look easy." ___ AP MLB: Noah Trister, The Associated Press
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mullins robs Sánchez of home run in what may have been the outfielder's last home game for Orioles
If this was the final home game for Cedric Mullins in Baltimore, he gave the fans at Camden Yards one more spectacular highlight in center field. Mullins made a leaping, backhanded catch well above the wall to rob Ali Sánchez of a home run in the sixth inning Wednesday, although the Orioles ended up losing anyway, 9-8 to the Toronto Blue Jays. 'Just timing. Understand where the wall is, understand kind of how you have to gauge it, and timing it up,' Mullins said. 'It's not like I really practice it. Just kind of a feel.' The trade deadline is Thursday, when the Orioles have the day off. Mullins was outstanding in the field during this homestand and went 9 for 20 at the plate, including a single and a double Wednesday. However, in his last at-bat Wednesday, he struck out with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, and the Orioles never did get the tying run home. Mullins is in his eighth major league season, all with the Orioles. His 30-30 campaign in 2021 was a bright spot during a terrible season in Baltimore, and he remained a factor as the Orioles became a playoff team in 2023 and 2024. Now Baltimore is in last place, so he's one of several players who wait to find out if they'll be dealt at the deadline. 'I think everyone in this clubhouse is going to have a big sigh of relief when it's over, regardless of what comes down,' Mullins said. On Sánchez's drive, Mullins made a running leap, then used his left hand atop the wall to propel himself even higher before snagging the ball in his glove, landing and beginning his jog back to the dugout — all seemingly in one motion. 'I wish he would stop doing that," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "That one was really impressive, and he made it look easy." ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Mullins robs Sánchez of home run in what may have been the outfielder's last home game for Orioles
If this was the final home game for Cedric Mullins in Baltimore, he gave the fans at Camden Yards one more spectacular highlight in center field. Mullins made a leaping, backhanded catch well above the wall to rob Ali Sánchez of a home run in the sixth inning Wednesday, although the Orioles ended up losing anyway, 9-8 to the Toronto Blue Jays. 'Just timing. Understand where the wall is, understand kind of how you have to gauge it, and timing it up,' Mullins said. 'It's not like I really practice it. Just kind of a feel.' The trade deadline is Thursday, when the Orioles have the day off. Mullins was outstanding in the field during this homestand and went 9 for 20 at the plate, including a single and a double Wednesday. However, in his last at-bat Wednesday, he struck out with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, and the Orioles never did get the tying run home. Mullins is in his eighth major league season, all with the Orioles. His 30-30 campaign in 2021 was a bright spot during a terrible season in Baltimore, and he remained a factor as the Orioles became a playoff team in 2023 and 2024. Now Baltimore is in last place, so he's one of several players who wait to find out if they'll be dealt at the deadline. 'I think everyone in this clubhouse is going to have a big sigh of relief when it's over, regardless of what comes down,' Mullins said. On Sánchez's drive, Mullins made a running leap, then used his left hand atop the wall to propel himself even higher before snagging the ball in his glove, landing and beginning his jog back to the dugout — all seemingly in one motion. 'I wish he would stop doing that,' Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. 'That one was really impressive, and he made it look easy.' ___ AP MLB:
