* The Blue Jays don't need one trade to the stretch run -- they need about four or five additions, with the likes of Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie all injured. ... 2014 Canadians drafted … Canadians in the Minors … Canadians in College 2015 Canadian draft list Letters of Intent

 

By Bob Elliott

What should he do?

“If I were Alex Anthopoulos right now?” asked an opposing general manager, who has more experience and more post-season success than the Blue Jays GM.

“If I were Alex Anthopoulos right now, I wouldn’t do a darn thing. Not a single thing.”

You’re kidding right?

The Blue Jays need a prime-time starter to help them win over the final two months of the season to get to October.

They need an infielder to fill in for injured Brett Lawrie.

Do they need a third baseman or do they stick with the slumping Juan Francisco. Francisco was hitting .268 with 10 homers, 26 RBIs and a .943 OPS on June 5. He has hit .179 with four homers, seven RBIs, a .624 OPS and 35 strikeouts in 67 at-bats since then.

They need someone to replace Edwin Encarnacion, who is on the disabled list with a grade 2 quad injury.

They could use help in the bullpen.

They need Jose Bautista at 100%.

They need Adam Lind healthly rather than limping around as if at an old-timers game and then finding out Wednesday he’d be lost 6-to-8 weeks. He fouled a ball off his right foot June 14 and played 17 games with the injuries.

They need a second baseman.

And they could use ...

“Exactly the reason he should sit tight with all those holes,” said the other GM. “He has far too to plug. One trade will not solve a thing. Right now he has too many holes.”

The free advice is exactly worth the cost, but the voice of experience makes some valid points:

Why not wait until a few days before the no-waiver July 31 trade deadline, then address the situation.

How close will Lawrie be to returning?

Or Encarnacion?

Will Lind and Bautista are back to full health.

Where are the Jays in the standings come July 27 or so?

Do you empty the prospects cupboard to add lefty David Price when the Jays are sitting at the .500 mark?

The Jays scored a grand total of six runs in 48 innings as they went oh-for-Oakland and dropped the opener Monday in Anaheim. They have been hitless in 21 at-bats with men in scoring position.

From Oakland the Jays went south to Anaheim and is this ship headed further south to the shores of Tijuana to sink? No. It’s headed to Tropicana Field.

A question to be asked since the Jays have not added a significant sign since catcher Dioner Navarro on Dec. 13 (a two-year $8 million deal) has Rogers Communications given the Jays approval to take on more payroll.

On the trade front Jays scouts continue their tours looking for help after watching the Oakland A’s add both right-handed starters Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for top prospects shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder Billy McKinney, along with minor leaguer Dan Straily. It’s been reported that the Cubs asked the Jays for Drew Hutchison and Marcus Stroman.

A more appropriate package was triple-A Buffalo right-hander Aaron Sanchez, lefty Daniel Norris and Mississauga outfielder Dalton Pompey, both at double-A New Hampshire.

“Why would the Cubs ask the Jays for 2/5ths of the Toronto rotation when they didn’t get that from Oakland,” said someone familiar with the trade talks.

The Jays scouts have also been watching

_ Tampa Bay lefty Price, who is expected to be moved because he earns $14 Million US this year and is eligible for salary arbitration next season. All the Rays -- who obtained Wil Myers, acclaimed as the best hitter in the minors for James Shields -- is a Stroman, Sanchez, Norris and Pompey and the use of the Rogers Centre for a free weekend. Would you made that trade for roughly 43 starts from Price (32 next year, the rest this season)?

_ Switch hitting third baseman Chase Headley, 30, of the San Diego Padres watching him for a recent home stand. Headley is scuffling hitting .217 with six homers, 25 RBIs and a .628 OPS. Headley, 30, earns $10.525 this season. All the Padres want for Headley, according to scouts, is the Sanchez, Norris and Pompey package. Headley is a free agent in 2015.

_ The Jays are still scouting the Chicago Cubs. Switch-hitting infielder Luis Valbuena? He's hitting .255 with 22 doubles, two triples, five homers, 22 RBIs and .756 OPS while playing 59 games at third and 21 at second.

“With Lawrie out, with Encarnacion out, with Bautista and Lind not 100%, with maybe a need a third base, I wouldn’t use my bullets now,” said another scout.

The Jays trail the Seattle Mariners in the race for the second wild-card berth.