<p>As the trade deadline inches closer, many names are coming up for the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Blue Jays</a> to aim for, from Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins to Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates.</p>
<p>But the art of the trade deadline is that not every team can get the cream of the crop – sometimes, it takes savviness to find an under-the-radar player to help the team in the long run.</p>
<p>In the spirit of finding a player that might not be dominating the headlines, here are three underrated players Toronto should take a look at.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Jake Bird (RHP) &#8211; Colorado Rockies</strong></h2>
<p>Jake Bird has been one of the better pitchers on the rather hopeless Colorado Rockies this season.</p>
<p>Through 49 2/3 innings pitched, Bird recorded a 3.62 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, which isn&#8217;t going to blow you away, but it’s exactly what a team like the Blue Jays need to relieve much stress in the bullpen.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jake Bird&#39;s Disgusting Stuff. 🕊️🤮</p>
<p>5Ks in 2 IP. <a href="https://t.co/t1O8cHfkKF">pic.twitter.com/t1O8cHfkKF</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1932628822408429998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The right-hander has a 27.4% strikeout rate, 73.7% left on base percentage and 48.5% ground ball rate, which could be a profile that could help the Blue Jays prevent balls from flying high at the Rogers Centre. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5591079/2025/07/09/mlb-trade-deadline-big-board-players-postseason-2/">The Athletic</a>, Bird’s park-adjusted FIP is in line with that of the Cleveland Guardians’ elite closer Emmanuel Clase, showcasing his potential to become a middle-inning weapon.</p>
<p>Trading for Bird could cost the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/3-prospects-toronto-blue-jays-shouldnt-trade-deadline">Blue Jays</a> a bit more, given that he is signed through 2028, but it won’t cost as much as considering someone like Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels or David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bird has struggled right before the All-Star break, which should be monitored, but if he can find his early-season form in Toronto, he could be a difference-maker.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Danny Coulombe (RHP) &#8211; Minnesota Twins</strong></h2>
<p>Danny Coulombe has been a solid reliever for the Minnesota Twins despite his injury stint in May.</p>
<p>Across 26 2/3 innings pitched this season, Coulombe owns a 0.68 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, which demonstrates his ability to become an effective relief pitcher. His numbers may increase as the season wears on, but the right-hander has a career 3.27 ERA, 24.2% strikeout rate and 49.6% groundball rate. Turning back the clock to his time with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023 and 2024, he also showed great consistency with a 2.47 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.</p>
<p>The 35-year-old will be a rental reliever since he is free agent eligible this winter and in line for a payday, despite his waning years. Depending on how the Blue Jays rejig their roster and position themselves for the playoff picture, Coulombe could become the relief pitcher who can fill in the gaps for the seventh or eighth innings, especially if Toronto can’t rely on a few relievers like Ryan Burr or Nick Sandlin staying healthy.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Michael Soroka (RHP) &#8211; Washington Nationals</strong></h2>
<p>Michael Soroka is one of the pitchers who isn&#8217;t getting enough attention among all the other pitchers on the trade block.</p>
<p>So far in 2025, the Calgary-born pitcher has pitched 67 1/3 innings and has produced a 5.35 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. While these numbers are close to concerning, his career 3.96 ERA and 4.10 FIP should be more promising, as well as his ability to pitch in either the rotation or the bullpen. There are still injury concerns to factor in, given that Soroka has consistently dealt with issues for the past few years.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Soroka, Vicious 81mph Back Foot Slurve. 😤 <a href="https://t.co/2sKVS6xDRe">pic.twitter.com/2sKVS6xDRe</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1943464121162436707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>For contenders like the Blue Jays, the right-hander can be somewhat of a long man who can become a spot starter when needed. The flexibility Soroka offers is something<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-should-look-add-top-end-starter-deadline"> Toronto</a> should mull over, although he may be a high-risk, high-reward type of trade target with his contract expiring at the end of this year on top of his messy injury history.</p>
<p>Play the cards right, and Soroka really can turn into a Swiss Army Knife for the Blue Jays’ starting rotation and even in the bullpen.</p>
<hr />
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<p>Celebrate <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">Vladdy’s big news</a> in style with the <em>exclusive</em> new <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">BlueJaysNation Vladdy merch</a> — available only at <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">NationGear.ca</a>! Rep a future Hall of Famer and wear your team&#8217;s pride loud. Limited drop. Don’t miss out.</p>


As the trade deadline inches closer, many names are coming up for the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Blue Jays</a> to aim for, from Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins to Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But the art of the trade deadline is that not every team can get the cream of the crop – sometimes, it takes savviness to find an under-the-radar player to help the team in the long run.

In the spirit of finding a player that might not be dominating the headlines, here are three underrated players Toronto should take a look at.

<hr />

<h2><strong>Jake Bird (RHP) - Colorado Rockies</strong></h2>
Jake Bird has been one of the better pitchers on the rather hopeless Colorado Rockies this season.

Through 49 2/3 innings pitched, Bird recorded a 3.62 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, which isn't going to blow you away, but it’s exactly what a team like the Blue Jays need to relieve much stress in the bullpen.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1932628822408429998

The right-hander has a 27.4% strikeout rate, 73.7% left on base percentage and 48.5% ground ball rate, which could be a profile that could help the Blue Jays prevent balls from flying high at the Rogers Centre. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5591079/2025/07/09/mlb-trade-deadline-big-board-players-postseason-2/">The Athletic</a>, Bird’s park-adjusted FIP is in line with that of the Cleveland Guardians’ elite closer Emmanuel Clase, showcasing his potential to become a middle-inning weapon.

Trading for Bird could cost the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/3-prospects-toronto-blue-jays-shouldnt-trade-deadline">Blue Jays</a> a bit more, given that he is signed through 2028, but it won’t cost as much as considering someone like Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels or David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bird has struggled right before the All-Star break, which should be monitored, but if he can find his early-season form in Toronto, he could be a difference-maker.

<hr />

<h2><strong>Danny Coulombe (RHP) - Minnesota Twins</strong></h2>
Danny Coulombe has been a solid reliever for the Minnesota Twins despite his injury stint in May.

Across 26 2/3 innings pitched this season, Coulombe owns a 0.68 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, which demonstrates his ability to become an effective relief pitcher. His numbers may increase as the season wears on, but the right-hander has a career 3.27 ERA, 24.2% strikeout rate and 49.6% groundball rate. Turning back the clock to his time with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023 and 2024, he also showed great consistency with a 2.47 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.

The 35-year-old will be a rental reliever since he is free agent eligible this winter and in line for a payday, despite his waning years. Depending on how the Blue Jays rejig their roster and position themselves for the playoff picture, Coulombe could become the relief pitcher who can fill in the gaps for the seventh or eighth innings, especially if Toronto can’t rely on a few relievers like Ryan Burr or Nick Sandlin staying healthy.

<hr />

<h2><strong>Michael Soroka (RHP) - Washington Nationals</strong></h2>
Michael Soroka is one of the pitchers who isn't getting enough attention among all the other pitchers on the trade block.

So far in 2025, the Calgary-born pitcher has pitched 67 1/3 innings and has produced a 5.35 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. While these numbers are close to concerning, his career 3.96 ERA and 4.10 FIP should be more promising, as well as his ability to pitch in either the rotation or the bullpen. There are still injury concerns to factor in, given that Soroka has consistently dealt with issues for the past few years.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1943464121162436707

For contenders like the Blue Jays, the right-hander can be somewhat of a long man who can become a spot starter when needed. The flexibility Soroka offers is something<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-should-look-add-top-end-starter-deadline"> Toronto</a> should mull over, although he may be a high-risk, high-reward type of trade target with his contract expiring at the end of this year on top of his messy injury history.

Play the cards right, and Soroka really can turn into a Swiss Army Knife for the Blue Jays’ starting rotation and even in the bullpen.

<hr />

<a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85322" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2099/08/VLADDY_BJN-Merch_727x404_01.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" /></a>

Celebrate <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">Vladdy’s big news</a> in style with the <em>exclusive</em> new <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">BlueJaysNation Vladdy merch</a> — available only at <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">NationGear.ca</a>! Rep a future Hall of Famer and wear your team's pride loud. Limited drop. Don’t miss out.

3 underrated trade targets the Blue Jays should consider

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