The Blue Jays salvaged their series with the Padres on Thursday afternoon, eking out a 4-0 victory despite having Blake Snell on the ropes all day, thanks in large part to a Vlad Jr. home run and Alejandro Kirk’s best game in weeks — maybe months. They now head to their home away from home, Seattle, for three games over the weekend a half game up on Houston, and 2.5 games ahead of the Red Sox, who currently sit fourth in the AL wild card race. Things could be worse, in other words, which is why when GM Ross Atkins met the media this week he fielded all kinds of questions about the upcoming trade deadline, and made it abundantly clear — just in case it wasn’t already — that the Jays will be buyers.

Will that mean going after starting pitching, though? After Alek Manoah’s step backwards this week, it may be a bigger question than the club had hoped.

On episode 107 of Blue Jays Happy Hour we talked about all that, plus Chris Bassitt, the Mariners team shop, a hot dog record-breaker, Daulton Varsho, and so much more.

Have a listen!

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