We have absolutely no idea how active the MLB trade deadline is going to be with it quickly approaching in less than a week. The truncated 2020 season coupled with over half of the league earning a trip to the expanded playoffs adds more questions than answers.
Though, one contending team made a pretty significant move on Thursday. It could potentially shake up the American League Playoff race moving forward.
Mariners trade Taijuan Walker to the Blue Jays
The report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic goes on to note that the Mariners are receiving a player to be named later for the veteran.
Walker, 28, was among the top prospects in all of baseball back in 2013. However, injuries and inconsistency have derailed a once-promising career.
Prior to this season, Walker had pitched in 32 regular-season games since the end of the 2016 campaign. He has performed well in a starting role for the Mariners thus far in 2020, pitching to a 2-2 record with a 4.00 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in five starts.
Having won seven of their past 10, this move will help Toronto’s rotation in a big way. The team currently sits at 15-14 on the season, but has seen a lot of struggles from its rotation.
Matt Shoemaker: 4.91 ERA
Tanner Roark: 4.91 ERA
Nate Pearson: 6.61 ERA
Trent Thornton: 11.12 ERA
That’s certainly not going to cut it in a division that boasts a World Series contender in that of the New York Yankees.
While this trade might not move the needle too much, it is the shot in the arm that Toronto desperately needs.