ESPN's Jeff Passan proposes that the Blue Jays attempt to bolster their starting rotation by pursuing this veteran pitcher

In the midst of a scorching hot month, ESPNs MLB insider Jeff Passan has listed the Blue Jays as the "best fit" for Pirates right-handed Mitch Keller.

The New York Yankees fired the starting gun on the AL East arms race. Here is how Ross Atkins and the Toronto Blue Jays front office can respond.

Blue Jays starters currently rank 25th in ERA on the year (4.50) and 22nd in innings pitched (511 2/3). It's also no secret that the Blue Jays have struggled to find free agents willing to come up north, so bypassing the open market to lock in Keller through 2028 could be a power play.

Ke'Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds hit two-run homers, right-hander Mitch Keller struck out eight and the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 on Saturday afternoon.

The Toronto Blue Jays, however, pounded the Pirates’ bullpen for three home runs in a 9-7 win Saturday. Keller recorded two strikeouts and allowed one hit, a single by Santiago Espinal.

On Wednesday, Passan named Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller as the "best fit" for the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, as the former All-Star righty is under contract through 2028.