Blue Jays Linked To Ervin Santana and Jeremy Hellickson

With less than an hour to go until the trade deadline, two names have continually been mentioned MLB insiders: Ervin Santana of the Twins, and Jeremy Hellickson of the Phillies. The Jays appear to have strong interest in adding a starting pitcher, and it seems as though they may be deciding between the two right-handers.

The top name on the market, Rich Hill, has already been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, so the Jays are out on that front. Although the Jays could have used him down the stretch, Toronto was probably wise to avoid matching the haul given up by the Dodgers. By focusing on mid-rotation starters instead, it appears as though the Jays will receive a much lower price.

Sources: #BlueJays still talking about Jeremy Hellickson, who has drawn interest from #SFGiants and #Tigers.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 1, 2016

Source: Blue Jays have "definite interest" in Ervin Santana.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 1, 2016

Santana, 33, is controllable through at least the 2018 season, and could potentially fill the spot of R.A. Dickey next year. He boasts a 3.66 ERA this season, and carries a rather consistent track record in recent years. It's unclear if the Twins would be sending money over in a potential trade.

Hellickson, 29, carries a 3.70 ERA this season, but has seen his fair share of struggles in recent years. Although he is much cheaper than Santana in terms of salary commitments, he is a free agent this offseason.