logo
3 players the Blue Jays should consider trading for to support the postseason push
alt
Photo credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Matthew Spagnuolo
May 23, 2025, 09:00 EDTUpdated: May 22, 2025, 23:55 EDT
Comments
Given the recent hot streak for the Blue Jays, the club now sits above .500 for the first time since April 21st, there is a lot to be optimistic about.  The team is swinging for power (something they lacked a lot within the first month), and also had strong outings from starters such as Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt, which helped the club sweep the San Diego Padres earlier this week. 
I know it still feels early enough in the season, but you can always look towards improving the team as a whole. The Blue Jays currently sit second in the American League East, behind the New York Yankees (5 games back).
Considering there is still enough time left in the season to easily close that gap, the Blue Jays still do need some help in key avenues, so let’s look at who can be on the trade block. 
Kyle Finnegan – RHP
Washington Nationals
Given how taxed the Jays bullpen has been this entire season, one thing that’s been evident is this team has the need for a potential high-end reliever to assist with closing out tight games. 
Jeff Hoffman, for as good as he has been to start the year, has had a pretty tough month of May. Batters are hitting .379 against him, and the right-hander owns a 15.88 ERA through his last seven outings. Yimi Garcia, who has also been a top-end arm for the Jays, has an ERA of 10.50 through his last seven outings as well. Simply put, the team needs a bit more help closing out tight games for the time being given the overuse of some of the see arms. 
Finnegan took a while to sign this spring with any team before he decided to go back to the Nationals. So far in 19 games for Washington, he’s recorded 15 saves (he had 38 in 2024) and a 2.41 ERA across 18 2/3  innings of work this season as a closer. He’s given up his fair share of hits (8.7 H/9), but the damage has been limited to just five earned runs and limits the hard contact. 
Given he only signed a 1-year contract with the Nats, it’s possible, given they are only 22-27 this season, offloading Finnegan can be something the team can sell if they want to get MLB-ready players from the Blue Jays down the road. 
Luis Urias – INF
Athletics
Even with the recent play of Addison Barger and Ernie Clement, an argument can be made that the Jays do have a depth gap when it comes to the infield. Granted, the team does have players who can move across the infield, such as Clement and Michael Stefanic. As well as a couple of players in the minors who can fill the void in the minors, such as Davis Schneider and Will Wagner. However, another depth piece for your bench is not a bad thing in the slightest, and Luis Urias has found his bat again this season after signing a one-year deal with the Athletics. 
Urias has bounced around from teams, but he has found his groove with the A’s in 2025. So far in 38 games, Urias boasts a .802 OPS, which is ranked fourth on the team, and has also added six home runs with 11 RBIs. Ironically enough, on this Blue Jays team, he would be tied for second with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander with his home total. 
Granted, Urias is a free agent at the end of the season, and his career numbers aren’t eye-popping, but having another infield bat that can move around the diamond and also provide some extra pop can be a good sneaky depth piece for the team if the trust isn’t there for Wagner or another minor league infielder to provide that additional depth.
Andrew Heaney – LHP
Pittsburgh Pirates
If you asked a Blue Jays fan in 2023 if Andrew Heaney was worth acquiring, most fans would say no and not give it a second thought. However, with a World Series ring and some rather solid campaigns after that, the tide has turned on Heaney and what he can do on the mound.
Since his World Series win with Texas in 2023, Heaney finished last season with Texas, logging the most innings since 2018 with 160 IP across 31 starts.  Fast forward to this season, and Heaney is off to the best start of his career. 
Through 10 outings with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he has put up a 2.91 ERA and has recorded 42 strikeouts across 55 2/3 innings of work. He sports a 1.132 WHIP and a 4.03 FIP to start the season and has limited the hits to a 6.8 H/9 while seeing a slight increase in his walk rate to the tune of a 3.4 BB/9 with 21 free passes. A left-handed pitcher who’s struggled with walks, has a high strikeout rate, and is in his mid-30s? The Blue Jays had a pitcher like that over the last three seasons; you may remember him as Yusei Kikuchi. 
Now I am not at all implying these players are the same, as Kikuchi throws a harder fastball (98) compared to Heaney (95), but the similarities are there for sure. Given how much work Pete Walker accomplished with helping pitchers like Kikuchi or other veteran arms over the years, on an expiring deal at just $5.25 million, he could be a good depth option to help with the struggling Bowden Francis and bridge the fifth starter gap if Max Scherzer can’t shake the injury bug this season (the two were also teammates on that World Series squad). 

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News