Indians Bring Back Joe Smith

Indians Get: Joe Smith (3-0, 3.28 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 51/10 K/BB, Age 33)
Blue Jays Get: Thomas Pannone (8-1, 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 120/28 K/BB at High Class A and AA, Age 23)
Samad Taylor (4 HR, 19 RBI, .300 AVG, 4 SB, 133 wRC+ at Class A Short Season, Age 19)

One year after he was traded to the eventual World Champion Cubs at the deadline, Joe Smith has again been dealt, this time to the team they beat in the World Series, the Indians. In what is bound to be a heated race between Cleveland and Kansas City, the Indians have stocked up, now putting together what might be the best bullpen in baseball. Andrew Miler (1.52 ERA, 0.73 WHIP), Cody Allen (2.74 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), and Bryan Shaw (2.90 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) already form a three headed monster at the back of that bullpen, and Smith (3.28 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) will only make it better. He actually played for the Indians from 2009-2013, so he's familiar with the city and stadium. He's in the midst of another great year, striking out 35.4% of the batters he has faced while walking just 6.9%. He'll be a free agent after the season and carries a career 2.95 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.

Thomas Pannone gained some exposure earlier in the year when he started off with 34.2 consecutive scoreless innings at High Class A Lynchburg and AA Akron (54.2 if you include the end of 2016), and while he hasn't been untouchable with Akron, he's been pretty good. After going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.61 WHIP over five starts with Lynchburg, he is 6-1 with a 2.62 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP over 14 starts in Akron, striking out 81 and walking 21 in 82.1 innings. The 6' lefty just turned 23 in April and could be a back-end starter for the Jays in the near future. Samad Taylor is a little farther off from the majors, having been drafted in the tenth round out of a California high school in 2016. Reaching Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley this year, Taylor is slashing .300/.328/.467 with four home runs, showcasing an aggressive approach but a quality bat. He just turned 19 in July, so he has plenty of time to develop, and with the way young Blue Jays hitting prospects Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have taken off this year, this could be a great situation for Taylor.