Timing of Blue Jays pitcher's ugly slump couldn't be worse

Entering July, Trevor Richards was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise-underwhelming season for the Toronto Blue Jays. With a 2.57 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP, Richards had established himself as arguably the best and most reliable reliever in the Blue Jays' bullpen. His versatility was very valuable, often pitching two innings, taking the mound in late save situations or even starting as the team's opener on bullpen days.

However, July has not been kind to Richards, and his struggles have significantly impacted the Blue Jays' strategy as the trade deadline approaches.

Richards' performance in July has been awful. In 8.1 innings pitched, he has an alarming 16.20 ERA and a 2.64 WHIP. The worst of his struggles came in Thursday's outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he was lit up for four earned runs in just one-third of an inning. For a team already dealing with inconsistency and injuries, Richards' collapse is yet another significant blow.

At 31 years old and in the final year of his contract, the timing of Richards’ struggles could not be worse for the Blue Jays. The front office was likely looking to trade him to a contender in need of bullpen help, hoping to recoup some value before he hits free agency.

However, his recent performances have essentially ruined his trade value (at least for this summer). A pitcher with a 16.20 ERA in the current month is a hard sell, even with his impressive numbers earlier in the season.

Richards' ugly stretch complicates an already-challenging trade deadline for the Blue Jays. The team is in a precarious position, needing to rebuild but not necessarily from the bottom.

Now, the Blue Jays must be willing to sell low on Richards or find a way to keep him on their roster for the remainder of the season without harming their future and the development of their younger players. They do still have players they can trade, such as Yusei Kikuchi, Yimi Garcia and Chris Bassitt. However, the latter two are reportedly viewed as off limits .

Regardless, no longer being able to use Richards in negotiations is a bad blow to the front office.