The Toronto Blue Jays have one of the best offenses in baseball. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Teoscar Hernandez, there is no getting an easy out with that lineup. Their rotation also has been surprisingly formidable despite injury here and there. Toronto looks primed to make a run at the playoffs.
The one piece of the puzzle that can use some improvement is the bullpen, specifically at closer. Per beat writer for the Washington Post Jesse Dougherty, the Jays have acquired Brad Hand from the Nationals.
Source: The Nationals have traction on a deal that will send Brad Hand to the Blue Jays.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) July 29, 2021
Hand, 31, has put up a 3.59 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP, and 42/18 strikeout to walk ratio in 42.2 innings. He has struggled over the last several days, but otherwise has been very solid for Washington. He will join Rafael Dolis, Adam Cimber, and Jordan Romano in the back end of the Blue Jays’ bullpen and likely slot in as the closer.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today hears that Triple-A catcher Riley Adams is one of the players off to Washington.
The #Nats are receiving catcher Riley Adams from the #BlueJays in the Brad Hand trade.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 29, 2021
Adams, 25, is the Blue Jays No. 17 prospect and made his MLB debut this season. In Triple-A he has hit .239/.371/.487 with a .858 OPS, seven home runs and 17 RBI’s through 143 plate appearances.
Toronto is now likely to look for another reliever or two, and maybe a starter.
The Nationals continue their castoff of players as they sink down to the bottom of the NL East. Some deadline chips include Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Josh Harrison.
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