Don’t let the looks deceive you, that is the Atlanta Braves in fourth place in the National League East, six games behind the Miami Marlins.

That’s where things are in the National League East as we speak, and with the Braves being where they are, they’re in selling territory for the first time in several years. They join the Marlins and Nationals at the bottom, with the Phillies and Mets duelling things out at the top.

While there are a few rentals that could get moved at this year’s deadline, the most intriguing names are in the starting pitching market. On one hand, MacKenzie Gore and Edward Cabrera are both top-of-the-line arms who are under team control for several more seasons, so their price tags will be relatively higher. Sandy Alcantara, on the other hand, has just one more full season of team control after this one (with a club option for 2027), but with his rough numbers this season, he is not as appealing as he was entering the season.

Regardless, the phones of this division’s executives will still be active over the coming days. Let’s take a look at who the Blue Jays might pair well with at the trade deadline from the NL East.

The rumours on Gore have picked up in recent days, and with a thin starting pitching market, the Nationals may be in a position to earn a wealthy return if they want to trade him. Even with interim General Manager Mike DeBartolo mentioning earlier this month that he isn’t interested in moving any of their younger players, things can change quickly when the right price is brought to the table.

Gore earned his first career All-Star nod this season, pitching to a 3.52 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 11.0 K/9 through 21 starts. He’s reached 13 strikeouts in a game twice this season, including Opening Day against the Phillies in just six innings of work. The Padres roughed up Gore for eight earned runs in his first start after the All-Star break, but outside of that outing, he’s had just three starts in which he’s allowed three earned runs or more.

Ranking in the 87th percentile in whiff rate and strikeout rate, Gore gets a lot of swings and misses with his array of secondary pitches. He’s almost completely abandoned the cutter versus lefties, and he’s seeing solid results with a 44.9% whiff rate on that pitch. He’s also shown the ability to stay effective late in his starts, holding opponents to a .200/.295/.284 slash line during a hitter’s third plate appearance in a game against him.

With just three years of service time, Gore will be arbitration-eligible next season, and he won’t be a free agent until 2028. The Blue Jays will have a couple of spots to fill in their rotation after this season, so acquiring Gore could help them out in more ways than one.

I find myself believing Gore has more of a chance to be moved than Cabrera for multiple reasons.

First, although not contenders, the Marlins are 25-13 over their past 38 games and just four games under .500. Kyle Stowers and Agustín Ramírez headline a young group of talented players who have chances to be stars; perhaps the team wants Cabrera to be a part of that group. Secondly, Cabrera would cost a fortune on the trade market, given he has three more years of arbitration left to go before he hits free agency in 2029. I’m sure the Marlins would listen, but who is willing to give up that kind of capital?

Cabrera is having some of the most success of his career, and he’s on track to eclipse his current career-bests in innings pitched, starts, strikeouts, and wins. He currently owns a 3.48 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9. Since recording 10 strikeouts against the Angels on May 25th, Cabrera has posted between five and six strikeouts in every start.

He has a steady pitch mix, led by a changeup that averages at 93.9 mph and a curveball that generates a 42.3% whiff rate. While the strikeouts and velocities are a fun watch, Cabrera has consistently kept the ball on the ground with a 46.7% ground ball rate.

Cabrera would stamp himself into Toronto’s plans if he were to be acquired, but what’ll be most interesting is the players the Blue Jays would be willing to give up for Cabrera or Gore if they were legitimately interested. If one/some of Toronto’s top pitching prospects require either deal to get done, how much do they like those prospects versus one of these two pitchers?

While this may be uncharted territory for Atlanta, they do have some pieces they can move to salvage something out of this disappointing season. Let’s start with Igelsias, who has been nothing short of a stud for the Braves up until this season.

Between his acquisition by the Braves and the end of last year, Iglesias posted a 1.96 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 151 1/3 innings. This season, however, things have gone backwards for him, holding a 5.09 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 11 saves with five blown saves. His FIP of 4.27 is almost an entire run lower than his ERA, though, and he still possesses a 10.2 K/9 with his 95 mph fastball and 89 mph changeup that boasts a 38.1% whiff rate.

Iglesias has had his issues with the home run ball this year, with eight allowed, already doubling how many he surrendered last season. Six of those eight have come off his slider, and before you ask, “Well, maybe he just shouldn’t throw his slider,” that pitch has been one of his most preferred secondary pitches in his career.

Between June 9th and July 18th, Iglesias posted his best run of the season, striking out 18 hitters and walking only one while allowing zero earned runs over 13 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, a lot of that work to lower the ERA was quickly diminished after allowing a grand slam to Trent Grisham on July 19th against the Yankees, with Iglesias holding responsibility for all four runners.

It’s not the most ideal trade option for the Blue Jays, given Jeff Hoffman has been susceptible to the home run himself. But, with Iglesias entering free agency after this year and a track record of success, he’s worth a check in.

Speaking of being a stud after joining the Braves, here lies another example in Pierce Johnson, a 34-year-old right-handed reliever who was dealt to Atlanta from Colorado in 2023.

Johnson has pitched to a 2.75 ERA and 1.14 WHIP since being traded to the Braves, and he’s tracking a little bit better to those numbers this season with a 2.63 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 9.8 K/9. He has posted distinguishable results between facing lefties and righties; southpaws have hit him for more power, but he’s struck out 31 right-handed hitters versus just two walks with a .280 slugging percentage.

A Cody Bellinger solo home run is the only batter he’s allowed to cross the plate since June 13th. In that timeframe, Johnson has struck out 16 batters versus three walks (one intentional) to go along with three holds. He features a curveball, a four-seam fastball, and a cutter that he’ll throw every so often. The curveball is the pitch Johnson will throw over 70% of the time, and it was voted the most devastating pitch of the year in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in 2019 while he was with the Hanshin Tigers.

One of Washington’s most commonly used late-inning relievers over the past few seasons, Finnegan ranks fifth in Washington Nationals history in saves with 107, and is just three away from moving into fourth place. Should the Nationals move him, however, he may not get that opportunity.

Like Iglesias, Finnegan recently had one of his worst outings of the season, hence inflating his ERA quite a bit. On the season, he’s pushing a 4.50 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP and 19 saves over 38 innings. Finnegan was sitting on a 2.36 ERA after a July 10th outing against the Cardinals, but after allowing eight earned runs over his next two outings, his numbers took a hit.

Finnegan’s advanced metrics don’t paint the best picture for being a closer, even with a 96 mph fastball. His strikeout numbers are down this season compared to where they were during last year’s All-Star campaign. Finnegan was non-tendered by the Nationals last winter, but re-signed shortly after Spring Training games started.

MLB Insider Ari Alexander reported that the Cubs are among a handful of teams interested in Finnegan. He stayed put during last season’s trade deadline after accruing some interest, but he’s given the Nats another opportunity to move him this time around.

The Blue Jays and Marlins have had a decent amount of recent history with trading relievers, and it may be time for the two sides to meet on a similar deal.

After tossing another scoreless inning on Sunday, Bender has pushed his scoreless innings streak to 13 1/3, allowing just four hits and five walks during that period. On the season, Bender owns a 1.83 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 18 holds, and a 7.1 K/9 over 44 1/3 innings. He doesn’t make a living on striking hitters out, but a sweeper that has allowed a .072 batting average and .116 slugging percentage to opposing hitters also plays very well.

Bender’s FIP has sat significantly higher than his ERA this season, but that’s not completely unheard of for pitchers who don’t strike many hitters out. He sports a 48.7% ground ball rate, which would play nicely with Toronto’s infield, especially once Andrés Giménez returns.

Bender is arbitration-eligible starting next season, and he won’t be a free agent until the 2028 season. This would cost more than a rental, but again, the Blue Jays and Marlins have seen eye-to-eye on this kind of deal before.

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