The Toronto Blue Jays have a real shot at the American League East. Actually, four of the five teams do. The Blue Jays are three games behind the Rays for the division lead. The Orioles are also three games out. The Yankees are one games out. So, the division title is within Toronto's reach. However, the bullpen is keeping them from having a legitimate shot. The Blue Jays need Jonathan Papelbon. Now.
Brett Cecil, who has been serving as the Blue Jays closer, has been less than stellar. During the entire 11-game Blue Jays winning streak, Cecil did not have a single save opportunity. What would have been win 12 was a Blue Jays loss at the hands of a Cecil blown save.
Then there's this:
Brett Cecil’s last three outings for #BlueJays: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 8 ER.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 21, 2015
Might the Blue Jays finally pull the trigger on a Jonathan Papelbon deal?
This morning in the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo noted that it is dollars and cents keeping the two teams apart:
The Jays need a closer. Jonathan Papelbon seems to be the biggest prize, and even though the Phillies could assume a lot of Papelbon’s prorated contract this year and some of the $13 vesting option next season, the sense is Toronto is looking for a cheaper option and one in which they wouldn’t have to give up lefthander Daniel Norris.
Norris probably would be a lot to give up for the Blue Jays. Norris, famous for living in his Volkwagon van, is a promising starter.
The Blue Jays really could use Papelbon to stabilize the rest of their bullpen. After today's 12-9 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the Jays sent three pitchers- yes, three – to AAA. None of them were the struggling Cecil. One was starter Scott Copeland, who will be replaced by Aaron Sanchez's return from an injury. But Phil Coke and Ryan Tempera were in the bullpen. The Blue Jays have not yet announced who will take their spots.
Cecil has shown that he can be effective out of the bullpen when he is not in save situations. The Jays would benefit greatly from putting Papelbon at the end of their games. Could Toronto acquire someone like Papelbon to fill one of those two openings before they take on the Rays tomorrow night in St. Petersburg? We will see. The 2015 Blue Jays season depends on it. So does the job of general manager Alex Anthopoulous.
They need Papelbon. Now.
