logo
3 realistic trades the Blue Jays could pull off during Spring Training
alt
Photo credit: © Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 16, 2026, 10:48 EST
Comments
Baseball is back, and the Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up to defend their American East title in what should be baseball’s toughest division. 
The roster appears strong on paper, but good teams never stop trying to improve. The Blue Jays could use bullpen help and another bench bat even after their recent acquisition of outfielder Jésus Sánchez from the Houston Astros. 
Here are three realistic trade targets for the team during Spring Training.

Luis Garcia Jr. – Washington Nationals, INF

The Blue Jays are currently thin on middle-infield depth. An injury to Andrés Giménez or Ernie Clement would probably mean either Davis Schenider or Leo Jiménez is getting the bulk of playing second base, assuming Jiménez cracks the roster and isn’t DFA’d. The former will be needed in the outfield as a platoon partner of Sánchez, while the latter hasn’t proven he can hit MLB pitching. 

Garcia is an established major leaguer whose price tag doesn’t fit the Nationals’ current rebuilding timeline. He’s under team control through 2027 and will make $6.875 million this season—that’s not inexpensive for a smaller-market team with no intention of competing. The lefty hit 16 home runs and stole 14 bases in 2025, and is only one year removed from recording a .762 OPS (114 OPS+) with career highs across the board. 
Adding Garcia Jr. gives the Jays some additional flexibility up the middle and also adds another solid power bat that could help Toronto during the dog days of Summer.

JoJo Romero – St. Louis Cardinals, RP

The Blue Jays desperately need a trustworthy left-handed reliever in their bullpen. Brendon Little appears as though he’ll still be the team’s primary southpaw despite his struggles down the stretch, with Mason Fluharty waiting in the wings. Neither option feels quite established enough for a team eyeing another deep postseason run this October. 
JoJo Romero would be the perfect upgrade.
He’s an impending free agent and one of the few veterans remaining on the Cardinals after their mass sell-off this winter. He dominated hitters to the tune of a 2.07 ERA and 57.1% groundball rate in 2025, allowing just two home runs in 61 innings pitched. These numbers weren’t a flash in the pan, either, as Romero recorded an ERA of 3.68 or better in each of the two previous seasons, and would be the perfect addition to go with Little and Fluharty into the new year. 

Kody Clemens – Minnesota Twins, UTIL

The Twins are another rebuilding team that could look to unload some assets.
Clemens, 29, fits their roster from a price perspective as a pre-arbitration eligible player, yet his age likely phases him out of their long-term plans. Flipping him for prospects that better fit their timeline would make a ton of sense—and the Blue Jays should be interested. 
Clemens hit 19 home runs with a .434 slugging percentage in 2025. He ranked in the 80th percentile or better in both average exit velocity and hard-hit rate, with an expected batting average (.243) far better than his actual clip (.213). He’s also versatile defensively, grading as a plus defender by outs above average and fielding run value at second and first base in 2025. He also has experience playing each outfield position.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST

Love baseball? Don’t miss The 6ix Inning Stretch — the brand new podcast from The Nation Network, presented by Betway. Hosted by Toronto sports reporter Lindsay Dunn and 3-time MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield, this weekly show delivers insider stories, unfiltered Jays talk, player interviews, and expert analysis from around the majors. New episodes drop every Wednesday — listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on the Bluejaysnation YouTube channel.

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News