Daulton Varsho has John Schneider's outfield back on the field, but the Blue Jays still need another bat out there.
That may sound backward for a team that always gets tied to starting pitching at the deadline. But Toronto's bigger problem right now sits in the grass, not on the mound.
The Blue Jays are 39-42, which leaves them in the middle of the race without much room to carry thin offense from corner spots.
Toronto has already patched around too many outfield issues this season. Anthony Santander is out after left shoulder surgery, and Addison Barger is still stuck in recovery with no rehab assignment underway.
Varsho's return helps the defense right away, and Nathan Lukes has given the lineup some useful at-bats. That still does not make this a settled outfield.
George Springer has mostly lived at DH, which tells you the club is trying to manage his workload and keep his bat in the lineup. That leaves Toronto balancing health, coverage and production at the same time.
And when a team is doing that in late June, it is usually still shopping.
Toronto's cleaner deadline fix may be in the outfield
The rotation is not perfect, but it is at least getting bodies back. Shane Bieber was activated from the 60-day injured list on June 23, giving Toronto another real arm to work into the mix.
That changes the trade math. A front office can survive with imperfect rotation depth if it believes it has enough starters to line up a week at a time.
The outfield is different. The Blue Jays need someone who can actually lengthen the lineup, take pressure off Varsho, and stop the club from piecing together too many matchup-based starts.
Myles Straw still brings speed and range, but that is not the same as adding another everyday threat. Davis Schneider can move around, but Toronto has spent too much of this season asking role players to cover for missing impact bats.
That is why the idea of outfield help makes more sense than another starter. This club does not just need innings. It needs a more stable lineup card.
A trade for an outfielder would also protect Toronto against another setback. Varsho just returned from left wrist inflammation, and Springer is 36. That is not a group you leave exposed.
If the Blue Jays buy, they should buy where the daily strain is showing most. Right now, that is the outfield, and pretending otherwise feels like chasing the wrong fix.
Should the Blue Jays target an outfielder before another starter?
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