Five players the Blue Jays might trade ahead of the deadline
2 days ago
The trade deadline is just around the corner and the Toronto Blue Jays haven’t managed to dig themselves out of the hole, unfortunately. Almost halfway through the season, Toronto now possesses a 36-43 record and is six and a half games away from securing the last Wild Card spot. Overall, the 2024 season has been a disappointment for the Blue Jays so far, but this presents an opportunity for the team to take advantage of the trade market that will inevitably be filled with hungry buyers.
While the American League playoff picture is taking shape earlier on, there are still races going on for the last Wild Card spot and the American League (AL) West division lead. The Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays are both a striking distance away from taking over the third Wild Card spot. On the AL West division lead battle, the Seattle Mariners are solidly leading the race but the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers can easily challenge Seattle’s dominance with consistent and sustained winning streaks.
The National League’s playoff picture is much more complicated than the American League East. For now, the Atlanta Braves, the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres hold each of the Wild Card spots, there are at least seven teams who could still aim to shake up the playoff picture. While some of these teams could choose to sell based on their position in the division, it’s not hard to envision most of these teams choosing to sell at the very last minute.
In a way, the general reluctance to sell around the league positions the Blue Jays as an advantageous seller with coveted talents. The sore lack of sellers also means that Toronto can hike the trade asking prices for their players to maximize potential returns. With a handful of key players set to become free agents in the next couple of years, below are some main trade candidates Toronto can consider trading to a contender at the deadline:
Yusei Kikuchi
Position: Starting pitcher
Throws: Left
Kikuchi signed a three-year, $36-million contract with the Blue Jays during the 2021 offseason. While the beginning of his tenure with the Blue Jays was rocky at best, Kikuchi succeeded in reaching his potential and has been performing mostly at his best since the 2023 season. With a 4.00 earned run average (ERA) and 1.7 WAR, Kikuchi can strengthen the contenders’ rotation as a backend starter.
Best fits: Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals
Danny Jansen
Position: Catcher
Bats: Right
Despite his injuries, Jansen has been a bat-first catcher in Toronto for a few years. Jansen played 86 games in 2023 with the Blue Jays and hit 17 home runs with a 116 WRC+, showcasing his potential for more. Jansen also demonstrated his ability to build rapport with a wide range of pitchers throughout his time in Toronto. Catching has been thin around the league and a competent catcher like Jansen is certainly an asset to many contenders.
Best fits: Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners
Yimi García
Position: Relief pitcher
Throws: Right
García has been one of Toronto’s better-performing relief pitchers thus far this season. García has struggled at times but he possesses a 2.57 ERA and 34.6 strikeout percentage, which is considered excellent in many regards. While García may not be as elite as some of the relief pitchers in the majors, he has the potential to bring more firepower to contenders who hope to add more swing-and-miss factor to their bullpen.
Best fits: Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants
Trevor Richards
Position: Relief pitcher
Throws: Right
Richards has been a versatile pitcher throughout his major league career and has played multiple roles as a member of the Blue Jays. He has experience as an opener, long man and set-up man with Toronto and has mostly excelled in most of these roles. Richards isn’t considered a candidate for a closing role, but his experience and skills can be appealing to many contenders, especially for those who are seeking seventh and eighth-inning help.
Best fits: Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Sam Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals
Kevin Kiermaier
Position: Centre fielder
Bats: Left
Kiermaier is currently on a one-year, $10.5-million contract with Toronto. It’s undeniable that Kiermaier’s value comes mostly from his defensive skills and sprint speed rather than his bat at this stage of his career. Even with his lacklustre batting stats, many contenders are always on the hunt for defensive stars who can effectively prevent runs. With a total of four Gold Glove awards, Kiermaier can become an asset for teams looking for late-inning defensive actions.
Best fits: Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres
Justin Turner
Position: Designated hitter
Bats: Right
Much like Kiermaier, Turner is also on a one-year deal with the Blue Jays this season. Turner hasn’t always been consistent in his batting with Toronto but has offered value through his patient plate approach and experience. Turner’s performance also has been improving since June. The harsh truth is that it will be harder to trade a player like Turner this time around. However, his veteran presence could become valuable to contenders looking to add versatility and a thump based on match-ups.
Best fits: Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres
Toronto can trade more players away if they desire given their current position. At this stage, the team will also have to entertain offers for first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette, even though those two are both under control for one more season.
If the Blue Jays continue to underperform, their mission is clear: trading soon-to-be free agents and retooling the team by replenishing the depleted farm system. Tearing down—even if it’s only partial— is a difficult process but taking a few steps back now could help propel the team forward in the long run. Toronto just needs to have the gut to play the narrative in its favour.
Recent articles from Veronica Chung
