In a Major League Baseball trade market that already has seen several relief pitchers trade teams, the rebuilding Toronto Blue Jays might just hang on to closer Ken Giles. That’s simply because Giles isn’t healthy enough to pitch every day. His value is driven down because of it.
Giles pitched a perfect inning on Saturday, so he’s not too hurt to pitch. But then he rested with Toronto in a save situation Sunday. He hasn’t pitched in back-to-back days since July 4.
Jays are still talking to teams about closer Ken Giles who’s having a terrific year but wasn’t used last night due to what’s thought to be a minor elbow issue.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2019
Holding him back
Officially, Giles has elbow inflammation. He went on the injured list with the same problem in June and though he returned after the minimum 10 days, the problem has ailed him ever since.
Giles actually pitched on three straight days from July 2-4 against the Red Sox. He gave up a run in the third of those games. After that, however, Giles didn’t pitch again until July 17, after the All-Star Break. And since the 17th, Giles hasn’t pitched in back-to-back games.
He has been effective, pitching to a 1.54 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 35 innings. But it’s that last number that’s a problem. Who will pay market value for a reliever who has only pitched 35 innings and isn’t fully healthy?
Teams started ruling out #Jays closer Ken Giles on Sunday when he didn’t pitch because of elbow soreness, and now that he sat out again Monday, his trade value is gone until this winter.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2019
But maybe there’s a chance…
Despite that report, there’s news Tuesday morning that teams are still sniffing around Giles, perhaps trying to get him from the Blue Jays for a bargain price.
The Jays already traded ace starter Marcus Stroman. They are clearly in rebuilding mode with hot prospects with the big-league club.
But Giles is signed through 2020. He could either help them next year or improve his trade value in the final two months of last season for a bigger return in the offseason.
Jays are still talking to teams about closer Ken Giles who’s having a terrific year but wasn’t used last night due to what’s thought to be a minor elbow issue.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2019
