Toronto Blue Jays

Marcus Stroman might have made his final start for the Toronto Blue Jays with plenty of trade interest around the league.

According to David O'Brien of The Athletic, the Atlanta Braves were among the many teams scouting the pitcher Friday against the Detroit Tigers, when he threw seven shutout innings in a win.

With demand high, the Blue Jays are seeking an "Archer-like package of prospects," per O'Brien, based on what the Tampa Bay Rays received for Chris Archer when he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates last year.

Tampa Bay received Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow and Shane Baz in exchange for Archer last July, all of whom were considered high-level prospects. The first two were already major league-ready, while Meadows was named to the All-Star team in 2019.

Archer only had a 4.31 ERA at the time of the trade, although he also has a team-friendly contract that could keep him under team control through 2021.

Stroman, who can't be a free agent until after the 2020 season, is having an even better year with a 3.06 ERA in 20 starts. His 6-10 record isn't too impressive, but you can blame the Blue Jays with their 38-62 overall record.

This will likely motivate Toronto to make a move before the deadline, and the bidding war could be intense with interest clearly high.

An Atlanta trade could make sense with the squad looking to contend for a World Series title. The team entered Sunday with a 59-41 record, second-best in the National League and 5.5 games ahead of the Washington Nationals in the NL East.

However, pitching depth has been a question mark all season behind Mike Soroka and Julio Teheran. Dallas Keuchel has provided another weapon in the rotation, but adding Stroman could solidify the unit heading into the stretch run of the season.

The show Vladimir Guerrero Jr. put on during the Home Run Derby was just a sign of things to come.

The Toronto Blue Jays third baseman crushed his first career grand slam in the fifth inning of Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park to tie the contest at five. He had no trouble turning on a 96 mph sinker in the lower half of the zone from Gregory Soto and sent it over the wall in left-center field.

Blue Jays fans are excited about the future despite their team's 37-62 record, as evidenced by the fact there were plenty of them in attendance in Detroit to watch the youngster's grand slam.

It was Guerrero's ninth home run of the season and first since he lost a thrilling Home Run Derby to Pete Alonso. While Alonso won the competition's head-to-head format, it was Guerrero who drilled 91 long balls throughout the three rounds compared to 57 from the New York Mets first baseman.

Guerrero now has a grand slam to add to his resume, and there are surely plenty more to come as he continues his major league career. 

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman earned his first All-Star selection earlier this month, but he could be on the move in the next couple of weeks. 

"He's gettable, and multiple GMs expect Stroman to be dealt before July 31," Jeff Passan of ESPN reported.

The 28-year-old won't be a free agent until after the 2020 season, but Toronto could want to make a deal while the player's value is high. Considering the squad is just 36-60 entering Wednesday, there is no reason to keep him on the roster in an attempt to compete.

Stroman also is putting together one of the best seasons of his career, totaling a 3.25 ERA that helps overlook his 5-10 record. This has been a good bounce back from when he posted a 5.54 ERA in 19 starts last season.

Although he had been dealing with a pectoral injury, he returned Sunday and produced a quality start with three runs allowed in six innings against the New York Yankees.

Interestingly, the Yankees are one of the teams hoping to acquire the pitcher and might have just gotten a first-hand look.

According to Scott Mitchell of TSN, New York and the Minnesota Twins have both inquired about a possible deal for both Stroman and closer Ken Giles. This type of move would add some valuable depth to either pitching staff while helping them remain in first place in their respective divisions.

On the other hand, teams might have to be concerned about Stroman's inconsistency.

The pitcher doesn't strike out many batters and sometimes has a problem with walks, creating an FIP that is between 3.71 and 3.92 in each of the past four years, per Baseball Reference. However, his ERA has fluctuated wildly in this span (4.37 in 2016, 3.09 in 2017, 5.54 in 2018, 3.25 in 2019). 

While there is hope he is back on the right track after a down year, this could simply be an upswing before he returns to earth in the second half of the year.

With a thin market, however, some squad is likely to take that risk.

By hitting 21 home runs, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson set a first-round record to open the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby. His mark lasted all of two batters.  

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. eliminated Matt Chapman after going yard 29 times at Progressive Field in Cleveland, which was the most ever in a single round.

Guerrero narrowly edged out Josh Hamilton, who had 28 home runs in the first round of the old Derby format in 2008.

The Toronto Blue Jays third baseman displayed prodigious power in the minors, slugging .636 and hitting 20 homers across four levels in 2018. That hasn't fully translated to MLB just yet as he entered the All-Star break with eight long balls through his first 61 games.

But the Home Run Derby provided a taste of what's to come as he grows more comfortable against major league pitching over the next few years.

For a guy who's listed at a scant 5'7", Marcus Stroman is standing tall on the 2019 MLB trade market. 

The Toronto Blue Jays are more than 20 games under .500 and buried in fourth place in the American League East. Only the woeful Baltimore Orioles cushion them from the division basement.

It's past time for a rebuild north of the border, and Stroman is the Jays' trade-season crown jewel.

In 104.2 innings, the right-hander boasts a 3.18 ERA. After finishing eighth in Cy Young Award balloting and winning a Gold Glove in 2017, he's headed for his first All-Star Game this year.

He's also 28 years old and under club control through 2020. Pitching-hungry contenders should be lining up.

To add a caveat: Stroman left his June 29 start with a cramp in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. That said, he isn't expected to miss any action.

Assuming the injury is merely a speed bump, Stroman ought to be the shiniest starting pitching prize between now and the July 31 trade deadline.

The San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner is a postseason legend, but he's in a contract year and owns a 4.02 ERA.

The Washington Nationals' Max Scherzer is fun to dream on, but it seems unlikely he'll be available this summer despite the Nats' subpar record.

The Cleveland Indians could dangle right-hander Trevor Bauer, but they're above .500 and in the thick of the wild-card chase.

Stroman, meanwhile, checks all the boxes. He plays for a club that's sunk in the standings and needs to hang a "for sale" sign. He's on the right side of 30 and more than a rental. He's performing like a top-of-the-rotation piece.

And don't forget the intangible yet undeniable swag Bleacher Report's Scott Miller highlighted in 2017.

"I can't honestly think of a day I've been around him when he's down in the dumps or even keel," then-Blue Jays skipper John Gibbons said, per Miller. "He has lots of energy. He knows he's good. And another thing is, he loves the game of baseball."

Added Stroman, "I've always been that guy with a little chip on my shoulder who felt like he was going to get the job done in any circumstance."

A confident, energetic ace with an abiding love for the game? Who isn't trading for that dude in the heat of a pennant race?

Stroman will have suitors aplenty if and when Toronto makes him available. One obvious destination: the New York Yankees.

The Yanks are in first place in the American League East despite battling a raft of injuries, including to ace Luis Severino (shoulder), who's out until after the All-Star break. Adding Stroman's skill and energy could propel New York deep into October.

Picture this same scenario against the Boston Red Sox, but with Stroman on the Yankees:

You're tuning in for that all day, every day.

A native of Medford, New York, Stroman didn't mince words about his desire to don pinstripes.

"I love it," Stroman said of hypothetically plying his trade in the Big Apple, per The Athletic's Lindsey Adler. "New York's like the Mecca of the world, right? I love excitement. I love bright lights. I love competition. I love pressure."

The Yankees won't be the only squad who picks up the phone and dials Toronto general manager Ross Atkins. Other teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Angels, could use his services. Really, it'd be easier to name the contenders who couldn't benefit from a Stroman addition...because the answer is essentially none.

However it goes down, Stroman will wear new laundry on or before July 31. Bank on it.

"It doesn't seem like I'm going to be signed here to a long-term deal," he said on June 18, via Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith. "It's just something you have to come to terms with."

The Blue Jays can gain some MiLB chips. Another team can gain a high-shelf hurler. And we'll all gain the realistic hope of Stroman back under the postseason spotlight.

He may be short—but there will be no shortage of interest.

All statistics current as of Monday and courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman brushed off critical comments made by former MLB pitcher and current NESN color commentator Dennis Eckersley on Saturday by calling him a "clown" and a "hypocrite."

After striking out Boston Red Sox third baseman Eduardo Nunez to end the sixth inning of a 6-1 victory, a fired-up Stroman celebrated on his way into the dugout:

It proved to be the final batter of the day for the right-hander, who struck out six batters in six innings of shutout baseball.

Eckersley, though, was not a fan of the visiting pitcher's theatrics, calling the celebrations "tired."

Stroman got wind of Eckersley's comments and took to social media to respond, saying, "His comments are always trash" in one tweet. He then laughed off the criticism while calling the broadcaster a "clown," and he also called the former pitcher a "hypocrite" while highlighting one of the former Oakland A's reliever's celebrations.

The 64-year-old Eckersley may have an old-school approach to the game, but as Stroman pointed out, the Hall of Famer was also known to celebrate on the mound during his playing days.

As for the 28-year-old Blue Jays star, Stroman is an unapologetically emotional player. And he has made it clear in the past that he will not change the way he plays the game regardless of any criticism he may receive.

He told reporters back in July 2017:

"I'm an emotional guy. I'm going to continue to be myself regardless of who doesn't like it, who likes it. I'm always going to be myself regardless here on out.

"I'm emotional. That's how I pitch. That's what I pride myself on. That what allows me to be my best out there and that's how it's going to continue to be day-in and day-out. So if you don't like it, it's OK.

"... I feel like showing emotion and passion is part of the game and by doing so you're able to play at your most elite level."

There was a time in which showing emotion on the diamond was frowned upon. In the era of "Let the kids play," it's becoming more commonplace—and Stroman has been among those leading the way in adding some flair to the game.

This is not the first time comments made by Eckersley during a broadcast has ruffled a player's feathers. Back in 2017, Red Sox pitcher David Price reportedly confronted Eckersley for his "yuck" comment in regard to Boston reliever Eduardo Rodriguez.

The 2019 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby has found its first participant. 

Per Sportsnet's Hazel Mae, Toronto Blue Jays rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has agreed to take part in the power-hitting exhibition July 8. 

Guerrero came into 2019 as the most-hyped prospect in MLB. He's the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and turned heads in the minors last year thanks to a .381/.437/.636 slash line with 20 home runs in 95 games as a 19-year-old. 

The Blue Jays finally promoted Guerrero to the big leagues April 26. The third baseman is still adjusting to big league pitching, but his .249/.319/.426 slash line and seven homers in 45 games is very promising given his age. 

Having Guerrero into the Home Run Derby seems like the perfect way for MLB to showcase one of its brightest and most popular young stars. ESPN.com's Keith Law wrote the Montreal native boasts "plus-plus power" and an 80-grade hit tool. 

Given Guerrero's name recognition thanks to his father and the attention he has commanded coming up through the minors and into the big leagues, having him take part in MLB's most popular exhibition event is good news for everyone involved. 

The 2019 Home Run Derby will be held at Progressive Field in Cleveland. 

Toronto Blue Jays rookie third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left Friday's game against the Houston Astros after getting hit in the hand by a pitch.

Guerrero was hit by a Gerrit Cole fastball in the top of the first inning and remained in the game defensively in the bottom of the first before getting replaced by Eric Sogard in the bottom of the second.

The Blue Jays announced X-rays were negative, and Guerrero was diagnosed with a left hand contusion.

Entering Friday's contest, Vlad was hitting .268 with seven home runs and 19 RBI in 39 games this season.

The 20-year-old son of Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr. began the season on the injured list with an oblique strain, but after recovering and seeing some action in Triple-A, he was called up in late April.

Guerrero had an up-and-down first month in the majors, but he seemed to be finding his stroke entering Friday's action.

In June, Vlad had been slashing .325/.349/.475 with one homer and seven RBI in 10 games.

Although the Jays don't have another player with the ability to hit for a combination of average and power like Guerrero, they do have several options to replace him at third base if he is forced to miss additional time.

Sogard is a veteran utilityman who could see extended action at third. Brandon Drury and Cavan Biggio, who is the son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, are capable of playing a solid third base as well.

Toronto entered play Friday with a 25-43 record, which put it 16.5 games behind the American League East-leading New York Yankees. If Guerrero lands on the IL, his absence could hurt the Jays from an attendance perspective since he is by far their biggest draw in the midst of a rebuild.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has already followed in his father's footsteps as a Major League slugger. 

He will try to follow in his footsteps as a Home Run Derby champion as well.

ESPN's Marly Rivera asked Guerrero Jr. on Wednesday whether he would participate in this year's Home Run Derby in Cleveland, and he revealed he would gladly do so. The elder Guerrero won the Home Run Derby in 2007.

Guerrero Jr. has played 32 games this season for the Blue Jays and is slashing .248/.316/.446 with six home runs and 13 RBI.

While he hasn't put up spectacular numbers just yet, he is known for his majestic blasts in batting practice. He was taking batting practice with the Blue Jays back in 2015 when he was just 16 years old and wasted no time launching a long ball in his first batting practice of the season:

Toronto is 16.5 games back in the American League East, but Guerrero can at least help it win something this year if he delivers on his vast potential in the Home Run Derby.