Report: Brewers interested in Blue Jays' Joe Smith

Keen to upgrade their bullpen before next week's trade deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly reached out to the New York Mets about Addison Reed while also expressing interest in Justin Wilson of the Detroit Tigers, and it now appears they have another target in mind.

The Brewers, clinging to a 1/2-game lead over the surging Chicago Cubs for first place in the National League Central, have interest in Toronto Blue Jays reliever Joe Smith, sources told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, noting that they've had interest in the 33-year-old sidearmer since the offseason.

As it happens, the Blue Jays, at 45-54, are primed to sell. On Monday, ahead of his club's 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins admitted it would be "difficult" to add to Toronto's roster as the deadline approaches, noting that "subtraction from this team," which sits 6 1/2 games back of the second wild-card spot, is a possibility.

As such, Smith, who signed a one-year, $3-million deal with Toronto in February, is a likely candidate to be moved. Before landing on the disabled list in mid-June due to shoulder inflammation, Smith - activated by the Blue Jays over the weekend in Cleveland - was enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career. In 35 appearances, Smith has managed a 3.58 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, putting up a career-best 36.8 percent strikeout rate with the sixth-highest win probability added (1.62) among American League relievers.

The Brewers could use the help. With August looming, Milwaukee's bullpen ranks ninth in the National League in ERA (4.23), with the third-highest WHIP (1.43), too, and none of their relievers other than closer Corey Knebel, a newly minted All-Star, have accrued more than 0.6 WAR.