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Atlanta Braves: Could or should Marcus Stroman be a legitimate target?

By Josh Mathews

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 23: Marcus Stroman #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 23: Marcus Stroman #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MAY 03: Ken Giles #51 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the twelfth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 03, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MAY 03: Ken Giles #51 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the twelfth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 03, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Do the Atlanta Braves and the Blue Jays mesh?

When finding a good fit for a trade, the Toronto Blue Jays do make sense. They are in possession of Stroman and a reliever, Ken Giles, that are both under team control through 2020, so fans of trades that aren’t rentals would be excited.

Stroman has been up and down over his six-year career. He had three very good seasons (2014, 2017, and 2019.) In fact, he was an All-Star this season. His win-loss record (5-9) is ugly given that he plays for a non-contender, but a 3.18 ERA means that he’s by and large done an excellent job.

Then there’s injury history. In 2015, he missed most of the season with a knee injury, and in 2018, he missed time due to a shoulder issue.

When he did pitch, he struggled mightily with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. His 2019 results suggest the shoulder issue is behind him.

Ken Giles has been an interesting case, too. He’s either been completely dominant, or rather ineffective. Two dynamite years in 2014 and 2015 led the rebuilding Phillies to trade him to the Astros for a haul of prospects (Vince Velasquez has been the prize of the trade thus far.)

He initially struggled in Houston, but he was a star closer (34 saves) for the Astros in their World Series run. A bad start to 2018 found Giles traded again, to Toronto for two prospects. One of those turned out to be pretty awesome for the Astros, Roberto Osuna.

Almost predictably, Giles has returned to dominant form in 2019. He’s pitched to a 1.45 ERA, struck out 53 batters in 31 innings and walked just nine batters. He was arguably more deserving of an All-Star bid than Stroman.

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