David Peterson isn't the flashiest name on the free-agent market, but the Blue Jays should be calling. The left-hander would fill the one rotation gap Toronto can't fill internally.

Toronto's rotation doesn't currently feature a left-handed option. That changes only if Ricky Tiedemann cracks the staff.

Peterson has the track record of a reliable starter. Across seven seasons, mostly with the Mets, he's made 147 appearances, 123 of them starts.

His 2026 was a tale of two teams. With the Mets, he posted a 6.09 ERA over 68 innings, though his 3.85 FIP suggested he deserved better.

After a midsummer trade to the Cubs, he settled in. He posted a 3.70 ERA over 80.1 innings in 16 games, 15 of them starts.

What's the catch? Contact.

David Peterson's ground balls fit Toronto's Gold Glove infield

He's allowed 8.8 hits per nine innings over his career. That's a lot of balls in play.

But many of them stay on the ground. He posted a 50.8% ground-ball rate in 2026.

That's where Toronto's defence comes in. Andrés Giménez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are both Gold Glove finalists, and Giménez ranked seventh among all fielders in Fielding Run Value.

Peterson is a smart, affordable fit. Trevor Rogers is the flashier lefty on the market, but if that price climbs, this one gives Toronto a dependable southpaw for less.

Pairing a ground-ball pitcher with this infield is like putting a goalie behind an elite defence. Plenty of shots come in, but very few get through.

The broader rotation need is clear. José Berrios is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Cody Ponce is coming back from ACL surgery, and Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer are free agents.

MLB.com's Keegan Matheson has said the Jays need to add multiple starters. Peterson could be one of them.

Ross Atkins has bigger names on his list. But if the Jays want a lefty who can soak up innings without breaking the budget, Peterson should be near the top of it.