The Toronto Blue Jays are showing signs of making a move in the trade market to accommodate the return of Hyun-jin Ryu, 36.

The Jays Journal reported on April 18 (KST), “Toronto is making a late-season push for a postseason berth. The Jays are 53-41 and in third place in the American League East, but 5.5 games back of first-place Tampa Bay and 4.5 games back of first-place Baltimore for the wild card, which is good enough to make a run,” the Jays Journal wrote, suggesting that Toronto could be active in the trade market.

“Based on what we’ve been hearing lately, it seems like Toronto could be aggressive in the trade market,” the outlet predicted, “perhaps targeting a big name like Shohei Ohtani (Angels).” “They’d have to bring in one or two new players to make that happen,” he added.

Toronto is expected to have a fresh pair of starting pitchers in Alec Manoa and Hyun-jin Ryu. Manoa, who was sent down to the minors due to extreme struggles, returned to the team at the end of the first half and earned a win in Detroit on Aug. 8, allowing one run on five hits over six innings while striking out eight. Ryu, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year and hasn’t pitched a game in the big leagues this year, has looked good in his minor league rehab appearances, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three games (12 innings).

Still, as the Jays Journal notes, “Toronto has a few positions to fill on the trade market this year. They could use a power hitter who can serve as a backup or occasional designated hitter, and perhaps one more pitcher. With the uncertainty of what Manoa will look like and the fact that he’ll be paired with Hyun-jin Ryu, who has yet to show up in the big leagues, starting pitchers on the level of Marcus Stroman (Cubs), Lucas Giolito (White Sox) and Jordan Montgomery (St. Louis) could be available.” The Jays Journal predicted that Toronto could add starting pitching. 토토사이트

If Toronto were to bring in an outside player, several players currently on the major league roster would have to leave the team or be sent down to the minors. The outlet named Mitch White, Adam Shimber, and Santiago Espinal as possible candidates to leave the team. White is a Korean-American major league player who is known in South Korea as a Park Chan-ho lookalike. He has struggled this season with a 6.10 ERA in eight games (10⅓ innings).

The Jays Journal said of White, “It always seems like an obvious choice, but White is still on the major league roster. White, who came to Toronto via trade last year, has often shown promise, but injuries have hampered his early opportunities this season. He has struggled in his rehabilitation and is now an unreliable pitcher.” “To complicate matters, he has no minor league options. He would have to clear waivers to be sent to the minors, so he might as well be traded.”