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Examining five Blue Jays prospects who could earn big-league showcases post-trade deadline
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Hall
Jul 17, 2024, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 17, 2024, 14:36 EDT
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For the first time since 2019, the Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to sell rather than buy at the July 30 trade deadline this season, meaning their roster should look very different in a few weeks.
How different remains a giant question mark. But, the expectation is most of the front office’s work will centre around the franchise’s pending free agents, such as Yusei Kikuchi, Yimi García, Trevor Richards, Justin Turner, Danny Jansen and Kevin Kiermaier.
While that’d only be a modest sell-off, trading those six would still require plenty of work on the home front, needing to fill several holes on the big-league roster in their place. Depending on how much near-MLB-ready talent management receives in return for those rentals, if any, they may have to dip into their farm system even further to fill out the rest of the roster.
Doing so, however, will likely be far more challenging this time, both on the position-player and pitching fronts. For example, trading Kikuchi would leave a massive void in the Blue Jays’ rotation, which likely can’t be addressed with Ricky Tiedemann or Adam Macko since both are currently injured. Similar obstacles also exist on offence, with Spencer Horwitz and Leo Jiménez already in the majors and Orelvis Martinez ineligible due to his suspension.
The cupboards have been thinned out considerably, although they aren’t entirely bare. There will be players in the system Toronto can turn to when the selling begins. As for who those might be, let’s dive through the minors and explore five prospects who could earn a big-league opportunity after the trade deadline.

INF/OF Addison Barger

MLB Stats: 20 games (63 PA) – .150/.177/.183, 2 doubles, 18 SO, 2 BB
AAA Stats: 56 games (245 PA) – .259/.389/.468, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 48 SO, 39 BB
Assuming the Blue Jays end up trading a position player or two, Barger will surely be among the first to arrive from triple-A Buffalo, receiving his third major-league stint of 2024. And he’ll be aiming to enjoy far more success than he did during his previous two tours with the big-league club.
The 24-year-old has responded well since returning to the Bisons earlier this month, going 6-for-21 (.286) with a home run and four RBIs in six games since rejoining the club. More significantly, he’s earned as many walks (six) as strikeouts (six) in this stretch, showcasing an improved level of plate discipline — a trait that’s eluded him during his brief time in the majors.
Barger’s defensive versatility — in the infield and outfield — makes him an appealing option for the Blue Jays. Previously, it was a tad tricky to provide him with consistent playing time when Turner, Kiermaier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa were all healthy. But with the first two on the trade block, while the other is out week-to-week with a knee injury, those concerns will soon no longer exist.
Without those three, plenty of reps should become available at third base, designated hitter and in the outfield — all positions where Barger could assist. Though that’ll change at the hot corner once Kiner-Falefa returns, many of his opportunities could occur in right field with the DH spot freed up for a veteran like George Springer, who’d benefit from receiving days off his feet down the stretch.
Once the trade deadline passes, the last two months will become a tryout for those looking to leave a lasting impression on Toronto’s coaching staff, something that’ll be crucial for the left-handed-hitting prospect, who’ll have just one minor-league option remaining in 2025.

RHP Chad Dallas

AAA Stats: 13 starts (56 IP) – 6.43 ERA, 47 SO, 23 BB
Remember the earlier dilemma regarding Toronto’s pitching depth, or lack thereof? Well, that result will likely force them to consider promoting a 24-year-old starter who’s struggled to find consistency in his first season at triple-A.
Dallas, Rule 5-eligible after this season, is one of the few traditional starters making up Buffalo’s starting rotation. But after a breakout 2023 season, where he flourished in five starts at high-A Vancouver before spending the rest of the year with double-A New Hampshire, he’s delivered a disappointing ’24 performance thus far.
The right-hander did enter the All-Star break on a positive note, though, punching out a season-high eight batters across four scoreless innings in his final start, an outing he’ll hope to build off entering the unofficial second half.
Ideally, the Blue Jays would probably prefer to keep the 5-foot-11 hurler in Buffalo for the rest of 2024, where he can focus on improving a strikeout rate that’s fallen to a career-worst 18.1-per-cent clip. That said, they’ll need a fifth starter if/when Kikuchi is traded, and since Bowden Francis appears to be the only other immediate candidate, Dallas’ development may have to continue at the big-league level.

LHP Mason Fluharty

AAA Stats: 36 relief appearances (44.1 IP) – 2 saves, 3.05 ERA, 48 SO, 16 BB
For a Bisons staff that’s yet to produce a pitching success story this season, Fluharty may be just the person to snap that dry spell before the year concludes.
It’s been an impressive third professional season for the 2022 fifth-round selection, posting a 17.8 per cent K-BB rate difference while holding opposing hitters to a .199 AVG with Buffalo. He’s kept the ball in the yard, surrendering only three home runs — all versus righties, with lefties hitting just .158 against the left-handed reliever.
Fluharty’s four-seamer is only averaging 88 m.p.h., but it’s effectively set up his devastating sweeper, which has produced nearly a 40-per-cent strikeout rate and a 38.6-per-cent whiff rate. He isn’t on the 40-man roster and won’t be Rule 5-eligible until after ’25, though he could help address one of the many holes in the bullpen — in the short term and, potentially, long term.

RHP Eric Pardinho

AA Stats: 21 relief appearances (26.2 IP) – 1 save, 1.01 ERA, 37 SO, 10 BB
AAA Stats: 8 relief appearances (7.2 IP) – 8.22 ERA, 10 SO, 12 BB
There was a time when many wondered if Pardinho would ever reach the majors, at least with the Blue Jays. Now, the 23-year-old reliever may have a chance to make his long-awaited major league debut at some point this season.
Pardinho earned every bit of his triple-A promotion this season, striking out over a third of his batters faced while carrying a 2.27 FIP with New Hampshire. While he’s struggled to command the strike zone since being promoted, there’s been little drop off in his swing-and-miss, particularly on his splitter — responsible for six of his 10 strikeouts with Buffalo.
The right-hander, who’s Rule 5-eligible this winter, still has a few wrinkles to iron out as he looks to gain more experience facing hitters at the highest minor-league level. But it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him earn a shot with the Blue Jays before the end of September.

LHP Trenton Wallace

AA Stats: 15 starts (71.2 IP) – 2.76 ERA, 83 SO, 29 BB
Unless you’re a diehard prospect watcher, you probably aren’t too familiar with Wallace yet. However, the 25-year-old lefty is certainly someone to keep a close eye on throughout the second half.
With his high three-quarter arm slot, Wallace has racked up waves of strikeouts over the past two seasons, earning a 30.1-per-cent strikeout rate with high-A Vancouver in 2023 and a 28.6-per-cent clip at double-A this year. He may not sustain his sub-three ERA, given his high walk rate (10 per cent) and HR/9 (1.38).
But he could become an option down the road for the Blue Jays — either as a starter or multi-inning reliever — if things progress smoothly once he advances to triple-A, which should happen soon.

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