The Toronto Blue Jays currently sit<a href="https://www.mlb.com/standings/"> far away</a> from postseason contention, the cherry on top of a disappointing sundae that has been the 2024 season.
After missing out on Shohei Ohtani this past winter, the team pivoted to a host of veteran players in the hopes of finding offense production from within the players already on the roster &#8211; a plan that backfired and was only made worse by a pitching staff that couldn&#8217;t find their stellar 2023 form (especially in the bullpen).
The <a href="https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-2024-opening-day-roster">Opening Day roster</a> and the roster the Jays are putting forward today are drastically different. After a tumultuous season and a trade deadline sell-off, here are the players no longer on the team:
<ul>
<li>Justin Turner 1B/DH</li>
<li>Yusei Kikuchi LHP</li>
<li>Kevin Kiermaier OF</li>
<li>Danny Jansen C (was on the IL for Opening Day)</li>
<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa UTIL</li>
<li>Cavan Biggio UTIL</li>
<li>Daniel Vogelbach DH</li>
<li>Yimi García RHP</li>
<li>Tim Mayza LHP</li>
<li>Nate Pearson RHP</li>
<li>Mitch White RHP</li>
<li>Wes Parsons RHP</li>
</ul>
That being said, with all of these players onto new pastures and the MLB season starting to wind down, a few former Blue Jays are in a position to benefit from being part of a new organization in the form of a World Series ring &#8211; success in the postseason away from a club that hasn&#8217;t won a meaningful October game since 2016.
Now, I am bending the rules slightly here &#8211; mostly because a player doesn&#8217;t have to be with the team that wins the World Series to be eligible for a ring &#8211; they just had to have played with the team at some point in the season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Jordan Montgomery is back at Globe Life Field and receives his 2023 World Series ring from Bruce Bochy and Chris Young. 👏 <a href="https://t.co/sp1iykECId">pic.twitter.com/sp1iykECId</a>
&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1795611530001608714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
For those not aware, the team<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2023-world-series-rangers-who-will-get-a-ring-including-jacob-degrom-jake-odorizzi-and-brad-miller/"> that wins the trophy</a> and produces the rings gets to decide on the distribution of said hardware, with clubs often rewarding various staff members, executives, and sometimes fans with rings for their efforts (the infamous Steve Bartman received one when the Cubs broke the curse). This also can extend to players who stepped into the batter&#8217;s box or on the mound for a brief period, even though they aren&#8217;t on the postseason roster or were on the roster for a limited time. A fun example is <a href="https://www.screwballtimes.com/articles/who-gets-world-series-rings/">Dan Uggla in 2014,</a> where he played just four games for the San Francisco Giants before getting cut, and ownership honoured his time with the club in the form of a ring (although his baseball-reference page doesn&#8217;t feature a World Series banner for him). Teams often have multiple versions of the rings, all based on price point and the amount of bling, but a World Series ring is a World Series ring at the end of the day.
With this reference in mind and the numerous players the Jays have moved on from this year, who stands to earn a ring this year who started the season (or played for the Jays at some point this season)? Let&#8217;s take a look.
* All standings and stats data were done last evening *
Justin Turner / Yimi García &#8211; Seattle Mariners
Both Turner and García found themselves heading to the West Coast this summer, as the Blue Jays made two separate transactions to bring back some prospect capital for the two veterans. García is currently on the injured list and likely won&#8217;t return this season due to an elbow injury while Turner is still struggling to find a rhythm at the plate &#8211; authoring a .239/.354/.349 slash line with a .703 OPS and three home runs since joining Seattle.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Mariners roster moves:
🔹 Seby Zavala, C, selected from Triple-A Tacoma. 🔹 Luis Castillo, RHP, placed on 15-day Injured List (left hamstring strain) retroactive Sept. 9. 🔹 Yimi García, RHP, transferred to 60-day Injured List (right elbow inflammation).
&mdash; Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinersPR/status/1833666986766983352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Mariners aren&#8217;t necessarily a lock for the playoffs just yet and sit four games behind Houston for the first spot in the AL West and also four games behind for an AL Wild Card spot. A strong run to end the year will go a long way especially since they face divisional opponents in Texas (x2), Houston, and Oakland to end the season with a three-game Yankees series mixed in-between.
Cavan Biggio &#8211; Los Angeles Dodgers / Atlanta Braves
The 2024 season has been a year Biggio would likely want to put behind him. The Jays DFA&#8217;d him in early June before trading him to the Dodgers. He lasted just under two months there before being designated and released by Los Angeles, eventually signing with the Giants a few weeks later on a MiLB deal. His tenure there was short-lived, as Biggio would be traded to the Atlanta Braves on September 7th and was just recently called up to the big leagues given the numerous injuries to the current roster.
While this is Biggio&#8217;s fourth club this season, he has latched on with some strong teams. The Dodgers currently lead the NL West by five games and the Braves continue to be in the hunt for an NL Wild Card spot but likely too far from catching the Phillies for the division title, as they sit nine games ahead. It will likely come down to the wire for Atlanta but Biggio has two chances for a championship ring (and even playing in the postseason) if the Braves find a way into the postseason.
Kevin Kiermaier &#8211; Los Angeles Dodgers
Also heading out west this summer was Kevin Kiermaier, with the Blue Jays trading Kiermaier in exchange for veteran reliever Ryan Yarbrough in a move that revolved more around cap space than anything.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
That’s why we acquired Kevin Kiermaier at the trade deadline. 😤 <a href="https://t.co/7kUKp8BlCE">pic.twitter.com/7kUKp8BlCE</a>
&mdash; Dodgers Territory (@LADTerritory) <a href="https://twitter.com/LADTerritory/status/1823886166036504719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kiermaier&#8217;s career was mostly spent in Tampa Bay and while he knocked on the door of World Series glory in 2020, he still is without a ring in the twilight of his career. Since being traded, has worked more off the bench or in late-game situations as a defensive replacement given his top-notch glove.
The outfielder has already said that this season will be his last and what better way to cap off a career with a championship?
Yusei Kikuchi &#8211; Houston Astros
After two and a half seasons with the Blue Jays, Yusei Kikuchi was moved for a trio of prospects at the deadline that had the whole world favouring Toronto in the early moments of the deal. The left-hander has taken matters into his own hands since then and has become lights out for the Astros, who are currently trying to contain the AL West division lead over the Mariners.
Through seven starts, Kikuchi has posted a 3.07 ERA with 53 strikeouts and just ten walks &#8211; posting an 11.6 K/9. His 0.976 WHIP and 2.2 BB/9 have been a huge help for an Astros squad that needed rotation help and is reaping the benefits, as the club has won every game that Kikuchi has started.
Houston has a strong chance of making the postseason once again and will likely call on Kikuchi to eat up some innings. In a contract year, Kikuchi is not only setting himself up for a major payday but for some potential hardware if the Astros can make another postseason run.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
8 Ks IN A ROW. 
Yusei Kikuchi has tied a franchise record. <a href="https://t.co/V51X65lV0i">pic.twitter.com/V51X65lV0i</a>
&mdash; Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/1819549241330602101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Danny Jansen &#8211; Boston Red Sox
The most difficult trade for Blue Jays fans to grasp this summer was the Jansen move, as the long-time Toronto backstop was heading to a division rival that is looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Jansen has struggled in the batter&#8217;s box since being traded &#8211; posting a .615 OPS with just two extra-base hits and five RBIs with 14 strikeouts &#8211; but he is a walking machine, amassing a 13.9% walk rate in a red uniform.
Similar to the Mariners, the Red Sox are looking for a postseason opportunity through the Wild Card and sit four games back as well. The next few weeks will likely determine which of the two clubs will make the postseason barring a collapse from the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins down the stretch.
Tim Mayza &#8211; New York Yankees
After a strong campaign last season, southpaw Tim Mayza struggled mightily to find his form in 2024 and the Jays cut ties with their longest-tenured player on July 5th. Mayza quickly found a new home within the division in a MiLB deal with the New York Yankees and after over a month in the minors, the team recalled him to the big league roster in mid-August.
Mayza is still looking to find his rhythm &#8211; 6.10 ERA through 10 1/3 innings with seven earned runs allowed off 11 hits &#8211; but the Yankees are sitting in a strong position to make the playoffs this year. The bigger question is whether they can fend off the Baltimore Orioles for the first spot, as they sit just 1.5 games back, but postseason baseball seems to be in the cards for Mayza and the Yankees.
Nate Pearson &#8211; Chicago Cubs
One of the more surprising moves this past trade deadline was Pearson heading to the Cubs, as the Blue Jays did not need to trade him and he didn&#8217;t fit the mould of a &#8216;veteran contract needing to be moved&#8217;. Nevertheless, he was off to the NL Central and of course, he is thriving in the Cubs bullpen.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson, and Porter Hodge throw the second combined no-hitter in <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cubs</a> history! <a href="https://t.co/CfDPNDJ3qN">pic.twitter.com/CfDPNDJ3qN</a>
&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1831510584845586524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Since heading to the &#8216;Windy City&#8217;, Pearson owns a 1.86 ERA through 12 outings and has allowed just 10 hits and four earned runs through 19 1/3 innings. He has held opposing batters to a .152 average and owns an impressive 0.62 WHIP with two holds &#8211; a change of scenery doing wonders for the right-hander as he was also part of a combined no-hitter earlier in the month as well.
Chicago has some work to do if they want to make the playoffs. They likely aren&#8217;t finding their way in the division, sitting 8.5 back of the Milwaukee Brewers, but they can sneak their way in via the Wild Card &#8211; sitting just five games back. They will need the Braves and the Mets to struggle late here but have the added benefit of facing the Rockies, Athletics, Nationals and Reds to finish off the season with one tough series against Philadelphia slotted in between.
Mitch White &#8211; Milwaukee Brewers
Similar to Biggio, the 2024 campaign has not been very kind to Mitch White. The right-hander bounced to the San Francisco Giants before moving to the Milwaukee Brewers following his Jays tenure and he has spent the majority of the campaign in triple-A.
However, should the Brewers (who are currently leading the NL Central) find success in the postseason and win the World Series for the first time in franchise history, White and his six relief appearances with the Brew Crew means he is eligible should the organization decide so.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
In a colorful battle, Mitch White strikes out Tristan Gray! <a href="https://t.co/kuX7tir2ce">pic.twitter.com/kuX7tir2ce</a>
&mdash; Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) <a href="https://twitter.com/nashvillesounds/status/1827131187598393546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wes Parsons &#8211; Cleveland Guardians
With the injuries to multiple Jays relievers to begin the year, right-hander Wes Parsons made the Opening Day roster but his time was short-lived &#8211; as he was DFA&#8217;d on April 5th.
Parsons landed with the Guardians on a cash deal and rode the options bus a few times before being released on July 11th, posting four scoreless innings. Similar to White, while his time in the AL Central was short-lived, if the Guardians can hang on to their 4.5-game lead over the Royals (or make it via the Wild Card) and win the World Series, Parsons is eligible for a ring as well.
Bonus: Ryan Yarbrough, Joey Loperfido, Jake Bloss, and Jonatan Clase
While Yarbrough was moved to Toronto at the deadline, the left-hander might be cheering for the Dodgers to make a deep playoff run as he too is eligible for a World Series ring after spending the first half of the campaign in the NL West. For Bloss and Loperfido, the duo are in line for some hardware if the Astros can forge their way to the World Series once again.
Clase, who currently plays in triple-A Buffalo, stands to win a ring if the Mariners can find a spot in the AL Wild Card and run that wave into a World Series win &#8211; the first of their franchise history (to even appear, not just win).

The Toronto Blue Jays currently sit<a href="https://www.mlb.com/standings/"> far away</a> from postseason contention, the cherry on top of a disappointing sundae that has been the 2024 season.

After missing out on Shohei Ohtani this past winter, the team pivoted to a host of veteran players in the hopes of finding offense production from within the players already on the roster - a plan that backfired and was only made worse by a pitching staff that couldn't find their stellar 2023 form (especially in the bullpen).

The <a href="https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-2024-opening-day-roster">Opening Day roster</a> and the roster the Jays are putting forward today are drastically different. After a tumultuous season and a trade deadline sell-off, here are the players no longer on the team:
<ul>
 	<li>Justin Turner 1B/DH</li>
 	<li>Yusei Kikuchi LHP</li>
 	<li>Kevin Kiermaier OF</li>
 	<li>Danny Jansen C (was on the IL for Opening Day)</li>
 	<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa UTIL</li>
 	<li>Cavan Biggio UTIL</li>
 	<li>Daniel Vogelbach DH</li>
 	<li>Yimi García RHP</li>
 	<li>Tim Mayza LHP</li>
 	<li>Nate Pearson RHP</li>
 	<li>Mitch White RHP</li>
 	<li>Wes Parsons RHP</li>
</ul>
That being said, with all of these players onto new pastures and the MLB season starting to wind down, a few former Blue Jays are in a position to benefit from being part of a new organization in the form of a World Series ring - success in the postseason away from a club that hasn't won a meaningful October game since 2016.

Now, I am bending the rules slightly here - mostly because a player doesn't have to be with the team that wins the World Series to be eligible for a ring - they just had to have played with the team at some point in the season.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1795611530001608714

For those not aware, the team<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2023-world-series-rangers-who-will-get-a-ring-including-jacob-degrom-jake-odorizzi-and-brad-miller/"> that wins the trophy</a> and produces the rings gets to decide on the distribution of said hardware, with clubs often rewarding various staff members, executives, and sometimes fans with rings for their efforts (the infamous Steve Bartman received one when the Cubs broke the curse). This also can extend to players who stepped into the batter's box or on the mound for a brief period, even though they aren't on the postseason roster or were on the roster for a limited time. A fun example is <a href="https://www.screwballtimes.com/articles/who-gets-world-series-rings/">Dan Uggla in 2014,</a> where he played just four games for the San Francisco Giants before getting cut, and ownership honoured his time with the club in the form of a ring (although his baseball-reference page doesn't feature a World Series banner for him). Teams often have multiple versions of the rings, all based on price point and the amount of bling, but a World Series ring is a World Series ring at the end of the day.

With this reference in mind and the numerous players the Jays have moved on from this year, who stands to earn a ring this year who started the season (or played for the Jays at some point this season)? Let's take a look.

* All standings and stats data were done last evening *

Justin Turner / Yimi García - Seattle Mariners

Both Turner and García found themselves heading to the West Coast this summer, as the Blue Jays made two separate transactions to bring back some prospect capital for the two veterans. García is currently on the injured list and likely won't return this season due to an elbow injury while Turner is still struggling to find a rhythm at the plate - authoring a .239/.354/.349 slash line with a .703 OPS and three home runs since joining Seattle.

https://twitter.com/MarinersPR/status/1833666986766983352

The Mariners aren't necessarily a lock for the playoffs just yet and sit four games behind Houston for the first spot in the AL West and also four games behind for an AL Wild Card spot. A strong run to end the year will go a long way especially since they face divisional opponents in Texas (x2), Houston, and Oakland to end the season with a three-game Yankees series mixed in-between.

Cavan Biggio - Los Angeles Dodgers / Atlanta Braves

The 2024 season has been a year Biggio would likely want to put behind him. The Jays DFA'd him in early June before trading him to the Dodgers. He lasted just under two months there before being designated and released by Los Angeles, eventually signing with the Giants a few weeks later on a MiLB deal. His tenure there was short-lived, as Biggio would be traded to the Atlanta Braves on September 7th and was just recently called up to the big leagues given the numerous injuries to the current roster.

While this is Biggio's fourth club this season, he has latched on with some strong teams. The Dodgers currently lead the NL West by five games and the Braves continue to be in the hunt for an NL Wild Card spot but likely too far from catching the Phillies for the division title, as they sit nine games ahead. It will likely come down to the wire for Atlanta but Biggio has two chances for a championship ring (and even playing in the postseason) if the Braves find a way into the postseason.

Kevin Kiermaier - Los Angeles Dodgers

Also heading out west this summer was Kevin Kiermaier, with the Blue Jays trading Kiermaier in exchange for veteran reliever Ryan Yarbrough in a move that revolved more around cap space than anything.

https://twitter.com/LADTerritory/status/1823886166036504719

Kiermaier's career was mostly spent in Tampa Bay and while he knocked on the door of World Series glory in 2020, he still is without a ring in the twilight of his career. Since being traded, has worked more off the bench or in late-game situations as a defensive replacement given his top-notch glove.

The outfielder has already said that this season will be his last and what better way to cap off a career with a championship?

Yusei Kikuchi - Houston Astros

After two and a half seasons with the Blue Jays, Yusei Kikuchi was moved for a trio of prospects at the deadline that had the whole world favouring Toronto in the early moments of the deal. The left-hander has taken matters into his own hands since then and has become lights out for the Astros, who are currently trying to contain the AL West division lead over the Mariners.

Through seven starts, Kikuchi has posted a 3.07 ERA with 53 strikeouts and just ten walks - posting an 11.6 K/9. His 0.976 WHIP and 2.2 BB/9 have been a huge help for an Astros squad that needed rotation help and is reaping the benefits, as the club has won every game that Kikuchi has started.

Houston has a strong chance of making the postseason once again and will likely call on Kikuchi to eat up some innings. In a contract year, Kikuchi is not only setting himself up for a major payday but for some potential hardware if the Astros can make another postseason run.

https://twitter.com/astros/status/1819549241330602101

Danny Jansen - Boston Red Sox

The most difficult trade for Blue Jays fans to grasp this summer was the Jansen move, as the long-time Toronto backstop was heading to a division rival that is looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Jansen has struggled in the batter's box since being traded - posting a .615 OPS with just two extra-base hits and five RBIs with 14 strikeouts - but he is a walking machine, amassing a 13.9% walk rate in a red uniform.

Similar to the Mariners, the Red Sox are looking for a postseason opportunity through the Wild Card and sit four games back as well. The next few weeks will likely determine which of the two clubs will make the postseason barring a collapse from the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins down the stretch.

Tim Mayza - New York Yankees

After a strong campaign last season, southpaw Tim Mayza struggled mightily to find his form in 2024 and the Jays cut ties with their longest-tenured player on July 5th. Mayza quickly found a new home within the division in a MiLB deal with the New York Yankees and after over a month in the minors, the team recalled him to the big league roster in mid-August.

Mayza is still looking to find his rhythm - 6.10 ERA through 10 1/3 innings with seven earned runs allowed off 11 hits - but the Yankees are sitting in a strong position to make the playoffs this year. The bigger question is whether they can fend off the Baltimore Orioles for the first spot, as they sit just 1.5 games back, but postseason baseball seems to be in the cards for Mayza and the Yankees.

Nate Pearson - Chicago Cubs

One of the more surprising moves this past trade deadline was Pearson heading to the Cubs, as the Blue Jays did not need to trade him and he didn't fit the mould of a 'veteran contract needing to be moved'. Nevertheless, he was off to the NL Central and of course, he is thriving in the Cubs bullpen.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1831510584845586524

Since heading to the 'Windy City', Pearson owns a 1.86 ERA through 12 outings and has allowed just 10 hits and four earned runs through 19 1/3 innings. He has held opposing batters to a .152 average and owns an impressive 0.62 WHIP with two holds - a change of scenery doing wonders for the right-hander as he was also part of a combined no-hitter earlier in the month as well.

Chicago has some work to do if they want to make the playoffs. They likely aren't finding their way in the division, sitting 8.5 back of the Milwaukee Brewers, but they can sneak their way in via the Wild Card - sitting just five games back. They will need the Braves and the Mets to struggle late here but have the added benefit of facing the Rockies, Athletics, Nationals and Reds to finish off the season with one tough series against Philadelphia slotted in between.

Mitch White - Milwaukee Brewers

Similar to Biggio, the 2024 campaign has not been very kind to Mitch White. The right-hander bounced to the San Francisco Giants before moving to the Milwaukee Brewers following his Jays tenure and he has spent the majority of the campaign in triple-A.

However, should the Brewers (who are currently leading the NL Central) find success in the postseason and win the World Series for the first time in franchise history, White and his six relief appearances with the Brew Crew means he is eligible should the organization decide so.

https://twitter.com/nashvillesounds/status/1827131187598393546

Wes Parsons - Cleveland Guardians

With the injuries to multiple Jays relievers to begin the year, right-hander Wes Parsons made the Opening Day roster but his time was short-lived - as he was DFA'd on April 5th.

Parsons landed with the Guardians on a cash deal and rode the options bus a few times before being released on July 11th, posting four scoreless innings. Similar to White, while his time in the AL Central was short-lived, if the Guardians can hang on to their 4.5-game lead over the Royals (or make it via the Wild Card) and win the World Series, Parsons is eligible for a ring as well.

Bonus: Ryan Yarbrough, Joey Loperfido, Jake Bloss, and Jonatan Clase

While Yarbrough was moved to Toronto at the deadline, the left-hander might be cheering for the Dodgers to make a deep playoff run as he too is eligible for a World Series ring after spending the first half of the campaign in the NL West. For Bloss and Loperfido, the duo are in line for some hardware if the Astros can forge their way to the World Series once again.

Clase, who currently plays in triple-A Buffalo, stands to win a ring if the Mariners can find a spot in the AL Wild Card and run that wave into a World Series win - the first of their franchise history (to even appear, not just win).

Former Blue Jays in contention for a World Series championship ring this season

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