<p>The biggest need for the Blue Jays this whole season has been their rotation.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Across the Major Leagues, the Blue Jays starters rank 21st in WHIP (1.32), 25th in ERA (4.60), and 26th in FIP (4.62). With the struggles and injuries to Bowden Francis and the uncertainty of Max Scherzer&#8217;s long-term health, the biggest hole has to be in the starting rotation. The club has gotten some length from Eric Lauer while using a host of other arms, but for a team looking for the playoffs, they will need more.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
<p>While having Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt is a solid trio to depend on, there is more to be desired, especially for a team looking to contend for the postseason. This is especially evident because Gausman has only gotten past the minimum of five innings three times in his last seven starts, and Chris Bassitt has given up three or more runs in four of his last five games.</p>
<p>Narrowing this down to three names only is incredibly hard, given how the market has yet to be decided, but let&#8217;s look at some potential names that will be on the trade market in the next few weeks.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Andrew Heaney (LHP) &#8211; Pittsburgh Pirates</strong></h2>
<p>It almost feels like Heaney and the Blue Jays are forever going to be linked to one another. The Jays have been linked to the left-hander since the offseason in 2022; however, he ultimately chose to go play for the Texas Rangers. Good choice on his part as he won a World Series with them the following year. Through 18 starts in Pittsburgh, he has amassed a 4.59 ERA, a 1.255 WHIP and 73 strikeouts across 98 innings pitched. While that stat line isn&#8217;t perfect, Heaney is always known to be a good strikeout pitcher, as he has recorded 100+ strikeouts in at least six of his 12 seasons in the show.</p>
<p data-start="130" data-end="715">Now, the issue with Heaney isn&#8217;t just his high walk rate — he also gives up a lot of home runs. So far, he’s allowed 15 on the season, which would put him second among all Blue Jays starters, with Bowden Francis (17) ahead of him. However, at just $5 million for the season and the opportunity to work with Pete Walker, there could be some upside. Walker has had success working with struggling pitchers in the past. The Pirates believe they can get a solid return for Heaney, although a rough stretch over the past two months — following a strong April and May — may hurt his value.</p>
<p data-start="717" data-end="971">The Blue Jays did a decent job trading Isaiah Kiner-Falefa ahead of the deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-five-best-trade-deadline-moves-ross-atkins">managing to acquire</a> Charles McAdoo in return. Given how well Eric Lauer has performed in the rotation, bringing in Heaney as another option looks like a solid buy-low move.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andrew Heaney is ready…first pitch is coming up! ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SNPittsburgh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SNPittsburgh</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/VRupv5aRBZ">pic.twitter.com/VRupv5aRBZ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dan Potash (@DanPotashTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanPotashTV/status/1939833406038135004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<hr data-start="973" data-end="976" />
<h2 data-start="978" data-end="1013"><strong data-start="978" data-end="1011">Grant Holmes (RHP) &#8211; Atlanta Braves</strong></h2>
<p data-start="1015" data-end="1403">This one may seem unusual, but it could turn into something significant. The 2025 season has been one to forget for the Braves, and it&#8217;s clear they need to develop a plan to retool for next year. With a strong rotation in place, it would be surprising to see them move off a piece like Spencer Strider or Spencer Schwellenbach. However, Grant Holmes could be a more realistic trade candidate.</p>
<p data-start="1405" data-end="1720">Although he doesn&#8217;t have the same major league experience as Heaney, that&#8217;s largely because he spent considerable time pitching at the triple-A level for the Dodgers and Athletics organizations. When he joined Atlanta, he was initially used as a reliever in triple-A and had made only around 10 starts since 2019.</p>
<p data-start="1722" data-end="2085">Since being called up by the Braves, Holmes has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season. In 20 outings this year (19 starts), he’s posted a 3.77 ERA and leads the team with 118 strikeouts across 105 innings pitched. There’s a reason he was selected 22nd overall in the 2014 draft by the Dodgers — it just took him a bit longer to break through and earn his place.</p>
<p data-start="2087" data-end="2448">One complication with trading Holmes is that he’s under team control until 2031, with arbitration not beginning until 2028. With that much control, it may seem unwise for Atlanta to move him after just one bad team season — unless they can use his value to address a position of weakness. Right now, Atlanta’s biggest holes are in left field and at shortstop.</p>
<p data-start="2450" data-end="2803">Given the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-should-look-add-top-end-starter-deadline">Blue Jays</a>’ depth of outfielders in the system — including Joey Loperfido (recently recalled), Alan Roden, and Jonatan Clase — it could make sense for a team like Atlanta to ask for one of those names if Holmes is made available. If we know anything about Alex Anthopoulos, it’s that he’s not afraid to make a trade — even with his former team.</p>
<hr data-start="2805" data-end="2808" />
<h2 data-start="2810" data-end="2849"><strong data-start="2810" data-end="2847">Zac Gallen (RHP) &#8211; Arizona Diamondbacks </strong></h2>
<p data-start="2851" data-end="3184">With the Diamondbacks reportedly listening on some of their key players ahead of the deadline, Gallen&#8217;s name has come up more frequently, along with other names like Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez, and Merrill Kelly. Gallen is having a tough year, posting a 5.40 ERA in 20 starts while carrying the worst WHIP of his career at 1.374.</p>
<p data-start="3186" data-end="3457">Despite the down year, Gallen was an All-Star as recently as 2023, and the Diamondbacks could use that track record to boost his trade value. The Blue Jays have shown they&#8217;re willing to be aggressive if the deal improves the team, and Gallen could be an intriguing fit.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What do you think about the Blue Jays apparently targeting Zac Gallen?</p>
<p>Presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/betwaycanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@betwaycanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BetTheResponsibleWay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BetTheResponsibleWay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BetwayCanada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BetwayCanada</a> 19+, ON Only. <a href="https://t.co/fA9ctVAPfa">pic.twitter.com/fA9ctVAPfa</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Blue Jays Today (@TodayJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/TodayJays/status/1945502152476000330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p data-start="3459" data-end="3782">So far in July, Gallen has looked more like his former self, posting a 3.50 ERA across 18 innings while striking out 22 batters. If he gets the chance to work with pitching coach Pete Walker, he could return to his pre-2025 form. Walker worked with Gallen’s former teammate Robbie Ray, helping him win a Cy Young in 2021.</p>
<p data-start="3784" data-end="4015">The potential to rebuild his value under Walker’s guidance could also incentivize him to <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/ranking-toronto-blue-jays-top-6-starting-pitching-rental-targets">re-sign with Toronto</a> in the offseason, helping to solidify the rotation for years to come.</p>
<hr />
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

The biggest need for the Blue Jays this whole season has been their rotation.



Across the Major Leagues, the Blue Jays starters rank 21st in WHIP (1.32), 25th in ERA (4.60), and 26th in FIP (4.62). With the struggles and injuries to Bowden Francis and the uncertainty of Max Scherzer's long-term health, the biggest hole has to be in the starting rotation. The club has gotten some length from Eric Lauer while using a host of other arms, but for a team looking for the playoffs, they will need more.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
While having Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt is a solid trio to depend on, there is more to be desired, especially for a team looking to contend for the postseason. This is especially evident because Gausman has only gotten past the minimum of five innings three times in his last seven starts, and Chris Bassitt has given up three or more runs in four of his last five games.

Narrowing this down to three names only is incredibly hard, given how the market has yet to be decided, but let's look at some potential names that will be on the trade market in the next few weeks.

<hr />

<h2><strong>Andrew Heaney (LHP) - Pittsburgh Pirates</strong></h2>
It almost feels like Heaney and the Blue Jays are forever going to be linked to one another. The Jays have been linked to the left-hander since the offseason in 2022; however, he ultimately chose to go play for the Texas Rangers. Good choice on his part as he won a World Series with them the following year. Through 18 starts in Pittsburgh, he has amassed a 4.59 ERA, a 1.255 WHIP and 73 strikeouts across 98 innings pitched. While that stat line isn't perfect, Heaney is always known to be a good strikeout pitcher, as he has recorded 100+ strikeouts in at least six of his 12 seasons in the show.
<p data-start="130" data-end="715">Now, the issue with Heaney isn't just his high walk rate — he also gives up a lot of home runs. So far, he’s allowed 15 on the season, which would put him second among all Blue Jays starters, with Bowden Francis (17) ahead of him. However, at just $5 million for the season and the opportunity to work with Pete Walker, there could be some upside. Walker has had success working with struggling pitchers in the past. The Pirates believe they can get a solid return for Heaney, although a rough stretch over the past two months — following a strong April and May — may hurt his value.</p>
<p data-start="717" data-end="971">The Blue Jays did a decent job trading Isaiah Kiner-Falefa ahead of the deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-five-best-trade-deadline-moves-ross-atkins">managing to acquire</a> Charles McAdoo in return. Given how well Eric Lauer has performed in the rotation, bringing in Heaney as another option looks like a solid buy-low move.</p>
https://twitter.com/DanPotashTV/status/1939833406038135004

<hr data-start="973" data-end="976" />

<h2 data-start="978" data-end="1013"><strong data-start="978" data-end="1011">Grant Holmes (RHP) - Atlanta Braves</strong></h2>
<p data-start="1015" data-end="1403">This one may seem unusual, but it could turn into something significant. The 2025 season has been one to forget for the Braves, and it's clear they need to develop a plan to retool for next year. With a strong rotation in place, it would be surprising to see them move off a piece like Spencer Strider or Spencer Schwellenbach. However, Grant Holmes could be a more realistic trade candidate.</p>
<p data-start="1405" data-end="1720">Although he doesn't have the same major league experience as Heaney, that's largely because he spent considerable time pitching at the triple-A level for the Dodgers and Athletics organizations. When he joined Atlanta, he was initially used as a reliever in triple-A and had made only around 10 starts since 2019.</p>
<p data-start="1722" data-end="2085">Since being called up by the Braves, Holmes has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season. In 20 outings this year (19 starts), he’s posted a 3.77 ERA and leads the team with 118 strikeouts across 105 innings pitched. There’s a reason he was selected 22nd overall in the 2014 draft by the Dodgers — it just took him a bit longer to break through and earn his place.</p>
<p data-start="2087" data-end="2448">One complication with trading Holmes is that he’s under team control until 2031, with arbitration not beginning until 2028. With that much control, it may seem unwise for Atlanta to move him after just one bad team season — unless they can use his value to address a position of weakness. Right now, Atlanta’s biggest holes are in left field and at shortstop.</p>
<p data-start="2450" data-end="2803">Given the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-should-look-add-top-end-starter-deadline">Blue Jays</a>’ depth of outfielders in the system — including Joey Loperfido (recently recalled), Alan Roden, and Jonatan Clase — it could make sense for a team like Atlanta to ask for one of those names if Holmes is made available. If we know anything about Alex Anthopoulos, it’s that he’s not afraid to make a trade — even with his former team.</p>


<hr data-start="2805" data-end="2808" />

<h2 data-start="2810" data-end="2849"><strong data-start="2810" data-end="2847">Zac Gallen (RHP) - Arizona Diamondbacks </strong></h2>
<p data-start="2851" data-end="3184">With the Diamondbacks reportedly listening on some of their key players ahead of the deadline, Gallen's name has come up more frequently, along with other names like Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez, and Merrill Kelly. Gallen is having a tough year, posting a 5.40 ERA in 20 starts while carrying the worst WHIP of his career at 1.374.</p>
<p data-start="3186" data-end="3457">Despite the down year, Gallen was an All-Star as recently as 2023, and the Diamondbacks could use that track record to boost his trade value. The Blue Jays have shown they're willing to be aggressive if the deal improves the team, and Gallen could be an intriguing fit.</p>
https://twitter.com/TodayJays/status/1945502152476000330
<p data-start="3459" data-end="3782">So far in July, Gallen has looked more like his former self, posting a 3.50 ERA across 18 innings while striking out 22 batters. If he gets the chance to work with pitching coach Pete Walker, he could return to his pre-2025 form. Walker worked with Gallen’s former teammate Robbie Ray, helping him win a Cy Young in 2021.</p>
<p data-start="3784" data-end="4015">The potential to rebuild his value under Walker’s guidance could also incentivize him to <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/ranking-toronto-blue-jays-top-6-starting-pitching-rental-targets">re-sign with Toronto</a> in the offseason, helping to solidify the rotation for years to come.</p>


<hr />

<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

Recent articles from Matthew Spagnuolo

Breaking News