Rockies: Toronto Blue Jays interested in Daniel Bard, Mychal Givens?

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May 12, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard (52) in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Blue Jays have recently had the worst bullpen in baseball. They had the third-best bullpen by ERA from Opening Day through May 13, as they had an ERA of 2.87. Since then, the Blue Jays have a bullpen ERA of 5.27, which is 27th in baseball in that span.

There’s a reason why MLB.com’s Mike Petriello tweeted this on Friday night.

Running out of words about the Jays bullpen. Just bring up 80% of the Triple-A guys tomorrow.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) June 19, 2021

With the exception of their current closer Jordan Romano and possibly Trent Thornton (3.38 ERA but a 4.70 FIP), the Blue Jays don’t have a reliever that has been consistently good.

Former Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood, for example, and has been in their bullpen. He has an ERA of 4.50 and while his FIP suggests he has had some bad luck (3.71), he has the same problem that he had when he was a Rockie: a high walk rate (5.6 BB/9).

Much of the rest of their bullpen is very young and inexperienced as well.

Would the Blue Jays be interested in Rockies relievers Daniel Bard and Mychal Givens?

Ian Hunter of The Daily Hive recently suggested that the Blue Jays trade for Bard (h/t Renee Dechert of Purple Row and the Rockies Pitch newsletter) and you can see why the Blue Jays should be interested.

Apr 14, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Mychal Givens (60) in the seventh inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Most likely, the Toronto Blue Jays will be interested in both Bard and Givens. Since May 13, the Blue Jays bullpen has a 3-12 record, which is why they now sit two games below .500. On Friday, their bullpen gave up five earned runs in the 3 2/3 innings of work en route to a 7-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, who have the worst record in the American League by 2.5 games.

The Blue Jays have a phenomenal offense as they have an OPS+ of 111 entering Friday, which was 2nd in baseball so they don’t need any help there.

What could a trade look like for Daniel Bard or Mychal Givens?

For Daniel Bard, the Colorado Rockies could get a lot for him in return. As we discussed in this article on Friday, the Rockies would likely be looking for a similar return as they had to trade to Baltimore last year when they acquired Mychal Givens and perhaps, even more, since Bard would likely become the Blue Jays closer and the Blue Jays would be getting one more month of Bard than the Rockies were slated to get with Givens.

The Orioles got the Rockies #7 and #11 prospects (per MLB.com) and another lower level prospect.

For Givens, he is currently on the 10-day injured list with a strained lower back so the timetable for his return is unknown but assuming he returns here soon and is healthy, he should get a decent return as well. Givens is familiar with the Blue Jays and the rest of the AL East since he was with the Orioles for part of six seasons.

Since he is a free agent at the end of the season and isn’t a closer, he would, understandably, get less in return than Bard. However, the Rockies still could get a couple of mid-level prospects for Givens.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 14: Starting pitcher Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the bottom of the second inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 14, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

For the Toronto Blue Jays farm system, they are a little bit top heavy.

The Toronto Blue Jays have three prospects in MLB.com’s top 33 prospects but they don’t have another in the top 100.

The Rockies would love to have the Blue Jays #5 prospect Alek Manoah as he would slot into the Rockies rotation right away (especially if Jon Gray is traded). Manoah made his MLB debut earlier this year and has pitched well for the Blue Jays in four starts. He’s got a big frame (6′ 6″ and 260) with three strong pitches and has no glaring weaknesses.

But if the Rockies got Manoah, the Rockies likely wouldn’t get much more than him for Bard and they would to give more than just Givens.

Some other prospects that are in their top 20 that are in the majors or close to the majors are right-handed pitcher Joey Murray (#17 prospect), catcher Riley Adams (#18 prospect), and right-handed pitcher Patrick Murphy (#20 prospect).

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The Blue Jays have the young players to get a trade done for the Rockies but it is just a matter of whether or not the Blue Jays are willing to part with them, the Rockies are willing to trade Bard and/or Givens, and whether or not the Rockies asking price is unrealistic.

Home / Colorado Rockies Rumors

Colorado Rockies rumors: Are the Toronto Blue Jays interested in the Rockies relievers?

Would the Blue Jays be interested in Rockies relievers Daniel Bard and Mychal Givens?

What could a trade look like for Daniel Bard or Mychal Givens?

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For the Toronto Blue Jays farm system, they are a little bit top heavy.

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