(AUDACY) Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd isn't the type of pitcher you're going to hand the ball to in Game 1 -- or perhaps even Game 2 -- of a postseason series, but for teams on the fringe of making the playoffs and/or ones without a capable No. 3 starter, he would make quite a bit of sense as an addition before the trade deadline.
Following a disappointing 2020 season, Boyd has a 3.90 ERA, 3.86 FIP and 1.2 fWAR in 11 starts this season. That type of production should intrigue contenders looking for a No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
However, the path to how Boyd has gotten to his cumulative numbers could scare off some contenders. Boyd has a 6.08 ERA over his past five starts. That comes after he posted a 2.27 ERA in six starts in April. The true version of his performance probably lies somewhere in between those two extremes, but there's no doubt that he'll need to turn it around to garner serious interest from teams hoping to bolster their October odds.
If Boyd heats up again, he's going to be on the radar of perhaps close to one-third of the league, especially given that he he's under team control through the 2022 season. Here are five contending teams that could make sense as landing spots for Boyd.
Atlanta Braves
Quinn Harris/Getty ImagesFor the second consecutive season, the Braves have had bad luck with their starting rotation. Mike Soroka almost certainly won't pitch in 2021 after having exploratory surgery on his Achilles in mid-May. Offseason pickup Drew Smyly has struggled mightily. Huascar Ynoa is out after breaking his hand by punching the dugout in frustration. It's been a frustrating season to this point in Atlanta, but the three-time defending National League East champions find themselves within striking distance in an underperforming division. The Braves would get a year and change out of Boyd, hoping he'd give them the kind of production they expected out of Smyly.
St. Louis Cardinals
Duane Burleson/Getty ImagesThe Cardinals currently have Jack Flaherty and Kwang Hyun Kim on the injured list, and John Gant's peripherals (5.12 expected ERA, 3.99 FIP) suggest he may come crashing back down to earth at some point this summer. Every game will be crucial for the Cardinals in an NL Central in which they currently trail both the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs. With that in mind, Robert Murray of FanSided indicated the Cardinals "intend to explore the trade market for starting pitchers." At worst, Boyd would be an upgrade over Carlos Martinez and Johan Oviedo. At best, he could be someone who makes a start in a postseason series for manager Mike Schildt's squad.
New York Mets
Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesOn paper, the Mets should have the deepest rotation in baseball. The problem is that it appears increasingly unlikely after the recent news that Noah Syndergaard throw for at least six weeks and may not pitch at all this season. Offseason pickup Carlos Carrasco has yet to pitch in 2021. The Mets have received tremendous production from their top three of Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker, but they could use a fourth arm with upside as they look to win the NL East for the first time since 2015. And in the same way that Stroman was acquired in part as an insurance option for if the Mets lost Zack Wheeler after the 2019 season, Boyd could provide some level of insurance for if the Mets can't retain Stroman this upcoming offseason.
Chicago Cubs
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesTo the surprise of many, the Cubs find themselves not just in the thick of the NL Central but tied for first place entering play Monday. They'll need to maintain that level of play for another five or so weeks for lead executive Jed Hoyer to seriously consider making a notable addition before the July 30 deadline, but so far, so good. Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo could all end up drawing trade interest if the Cubs fade, but right now, Bryant is an NL MVP candidate for a contender. To reach the postseason -- and potentially do damage once there -- the Cubs will need to add at least one starting pitcher to complement a top-heavy lineup.
Toronto Blue Jays
Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesBoyd made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays before being traded to the Tigers as part of a package for David Price in July 2015. Six years later, the Tigers aren't contenders, but the Blue Jays are and could probably use another starting pitcher as they look to win a division with four theoretical contenders. Boyd could return to the Blue Jays, forming a rotation with four lefties -- the other three being Hyun-Jin Ryu, Steven Matz and Robbie Ray. Matz and Ray are set to become free agents after the season, so Boyd would serve as an upgrade to the rotation for the rest of 2021 and potentially be the No. 2 starter in 2022.
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