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Blue Jays trending towards selling at the 2024 trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Jun 4, 2024, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Jun 4, 2024, 17:19 EDT
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It’s not a hot take to say that the Blue Jays’ season has not been going according to plan.
Heading into Tuesday’s game, the team is 28-31 and are 13 games back of the American League East lead just two months into the season. While the three Wild Card spots are more feasible, they are five games back with five teams to jump 36.4% of the way through the season.
This is to say, while they aren’t out of it by any means, it looks as if they’re closer to selling at this season’s deadline compared to buying. On top of the poor record, they also have a -36 run differential, which means that either pitching and/or bats have been an issue. In reality, it’s a combination of both.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan released an article that has an early look at the trade deadline. There are five categories in this article, Unloaders, Hinge teams, Tweeners, Likely adders, and Definite adders. The Blue Jays fall into the “Hinge teams” category. Basically, it’s a little too early to determine, but it’s trending that they’ll sell.
Passan noted that the Blue Jays won’t decide what they’ll do until the All-Star break in the middle of July. In fact, Jays’ general manager Ross Atkins said on a MLB Network Radio call last Sunday that trading stars Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. “doesn’t make any sense”.
But the issue is, it kinda does make sense. In fact, it makes a lot of sense. This team has made three postseasons in the Guerrero Jr./Bichette era, but has yet to win a single game or even win the division. With a year and a half until they hit free agency, this trade deadline may be the last time their value is this high.
Moving them would signal a full rebuild, but with a bottom 10 farm system and no contract extension, trading those two players would set them up nicely for a rebuild.
Of course, if they decide to do a quick re-tool, they can trade pending free agents at this season’s deadline. Passan pointed to Danny Jansen, Justin Turner, Kevin Kiermaier, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. In reality, the last three likely wouldn’t net them that big of a haul, but Jansen on the other hand, would get them quite a bit.
This season, the catcher is slashing .284/.363/.514 with five homers in 124 plate appearances, along with 10 doubles. He’s hitting for power, while not striking out as he has a 15.3 K% and a 11.3 BB%. Overall, he has a 150 wRC+ and 1.4 fWAR while being one of the game’s best blockers.
Other players not mentioned by Passan who the Jays could trade are Jordan Romano, Daniel Vogelbach, Trevor Richards, Yimi García, and Yusei Kikuchi. The latter would probably net them the largest return, as the hard-throwing left-handed starter has a 3.66 ERA and a 2.99 FIP in 66.1 innings pitched this season.
It’s to be seen if the Blue Jays decide to sell this season, but there are less than two months before the trade deadline, and even less time before a decision needs to be made. At some point, the Blue Jays have to start stringing wins against good teams, or they’ll have to go down the sell route.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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