There is less than one week remaining before the 2024 Trade Deadline, and the Toronto Blue Jays may be the most active team when next Tuesday rolls around.

It’s pretty clear what the team plans to do at the deadline, trade rental assets to make this team better for the 2025 campaign. While it’s been speculated that core players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette could be on the move, who knows at this point.
Let’s take a look at the latest happenings from around the league in this edition of News and Notes!
<h2>Latest on the Jays according to The Athletic&#8217;s Jim Bowden</h2>
In an article released on Tuesday for The Athletic, former general manager Jim Bowden answered questions, with quite a few relating to the Blue Jays. Here are some interesting notes in that article, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5651981/2024/07/23/mlb-mlb-trade-deadline-scenarios-rumors/">which you can read here.</a>
Bowden has been told by his sources that Bichette won’t be made available by the Blue Jays. Despite the calf injury and poor performance in 2024, teams know what they’d get for the shortstop if they were able to land him. What would it take? Well, Bowden reports that it’d cost a team with an average farm system a top-three prospect and two top-30 prospects.
Interestingly, Bowden also notes that “he’d be shocked” if the Blue Jays don’t move Green. In his first full-season with the Jays, Green has a 1.88 ERA and a 4.79 FIP in 28.2 innings pitched and has arguably been the team’s best reliever this season. With another season on his contract, the Yankees have interest according to Jon Morosi.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The Yankees are interested in a reunion with Chad Green, which makes sense on a number of levels: 
He’s having an excellent season in Toronto. 
He can close or pitch earlier leverage situations. 
He was a popular teammate in New York. 
He’s signed for 2025.<a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLBNetwork</a>
&mdash; Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1815743789832495516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Another mention of the Blue Jays came in the form of Chris Bassit, as Bowden linked the St. Louis Cardinals to the Jays bulldog. According to Bowden, he expects the fellow bird team to trade for a veteran starter, listing Bassitt, as well as Erick Fedde.
Moreover, Bowden noted that it “makes sense” for the Cincinnati Reds to trade Jonathan India, who is having a great season, to a team needing a second baseman. For some reason, Bowden listed the Blue Jays as one of those teams, which makes no sense at all given the team has Davis Schneider and Spencer Horwitz on the roster. On top of that, the Blue Jays are also selling, not buying, but the team was linked to India in the off-season.
Bowden also linked the Minnesota Twins to rental pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. This speculation is nothing new, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5644524/2024/07/18/minnesota-twins-trade-deadline-needs-buyers/">Dan Hayes of The Athletic</a> speculated that the Twins could be interested in Kikuchi, as they want to add “a rental starter”. 
Let’s dicsuss the Twins.
<h2>Twins have a payroll limitation</h2>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/40617439/2024-mlb-trade-deadline-preview-passan-stars-teams-deal-garrett-crochet-luis-robert-yankees-dodgers-phillies">According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan’s latest article</a>, the Minnesota Twins will be money in, money out at this season’s trade deadline thanks to financial limitations.
Say they want to bring in Kikuchi, the left-handed pitcher has about $3.91 million remaining to be paid on his deal come July 30. To balance the money for a “high-salaried player”, Passan believes that the Twins have to move money to make a deal work if they want to make a big move.
A “”high-salaried player” may not fit Kikuchi’s description, but the Jays could take back a player like Manuel Margot to maximize their return from the Twins. Margot has a mutual option with a $2 million buyout (paid by the Tampa Bay Rays) for the 2025 season. This is just an example.
Jays “subtracting, but not completely” according to Jeff Passan
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/40617439/2024-mlb-trade-deadline-preview-passan-stars-teams-deal-garrett-crochet-luis-robert-yankees-dodgers-phillies">In the same article</a>, Passan laid out what the Blue Jays could do at the deadline, listing the team as “subtracting, but not completely.”
It’s well known that the Blue Jays brass want to be competitive for the 2025 season, so it makes sense that they’ll only move their six players on expiring deals &#8211; Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Yimi García, Trevor Richards, Danny Jansen, and Kevin Kiermaier.
There are several interesting notes from this section, as Passan believes Guerrero Jr. won’t be available, a common belief shared by many. Moreover, Passan reports that Gacía “is a popular name among contenders”, while there are some executives that believe it’s just time to tear it down and start the rebuild.
Either way, expect the Blue Jays to be incredibly active next Tuesday.
<h2>Rays claim Joel Kuhnel</h2>
On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays claimed Joel Kuhnel off waivers, making it the fourth organization he’s been a part of this season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Rays Claim Joel Kuhnel From Brewers <a href="https://t.co/yQlCBaXIgY">https://t.co/yQlCBaXIgY</a> <a href="https://t.co/1Tum32TEPz">pic.twitter.com/1Tum32TEPz</a>
&mdash; MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1815825513299997058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After a few mediocre seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Kuhnel was traded to the Houston Astros in June of last year. His tenure with the American League West team lasted less than a year, as he was traded to the Blue Jays for cash consideration in early May.
On the 40-man roster, Kuhnel only pitched for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, posting a 1.04 ERA and a 4.64 FIP in 8.2 innings pitched, along with a 2.7 K% and a 10.8 BB%. He was designated for assignment and elected free agency on June 4, signing with the Milwaukee Brewers a week later.
After a brief call up in late June, he was once again designated for assignment the following day. He didn’t elect free agency this time, and was added to the 40-man roster and called up again, before being DFA’d for a second time a week later, not appearing in a single game for the Brewers.
Hopefully, the Rays can help him find some success.
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

There is less than one week remaining before the 2024 Trade Deadline, and the Toronto Blue Jays may be the most active team when next Tuesday rolls around.



It’s pretty clear what the team plans to do at the deadline, trade rental assets to make this team better for the 2025 campaign. While it’s been speculated that core players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette could be on the move, who knows at this point.

Let’s take a look at the latest happenings from around the league in this edition of News and Notes!
<h2>Latest on the Jays according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden</h2>
In an article released on Tuesday for The Athletic, former general manager Jim Bowden answered questions, with quite a few relating to the Blue Jays. Here are some interesting notes in that article, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5651981/2024/07/23/mlb-mlb-trade-deadline-scenarios-rumors/">which you can read here.</a>

Bowden has been told by his sources that Bichette won’t be made available by the Blue Jays. Despite the calf injury and poor performance in 2024, teams know what they’d get for the shortstop if they were able to land him. What would it take? Well, Bowden reports that it’d cost a team with an average farm system a top-three prospect and two top-30 prospects.

Interestingly, Bowden also notes that “he’d be shocked” if the Blue Jays don’t move Green. In his first full-season with the Jays, Green has a 1.88 ERA and a 4.79 FIP in 28.2 innings pitched and has arguably been the team’s best reliever this season. With another season on his contract, the Yankees have interest according to Jon Morosi.

https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1815743789832495516

&nbsp;

Another mention of the Blue Jays came in the form of Chris Bassit, as Bowden linked the St. Louis Cardinals to the Jays bulldog. According to Bowden, he expects the fellow bird team to trade for a veteran starter, listing Bassitt, as well as Erick Fedde.

Moreover, Bowden noted that it “makes sense” for the Cincinnati Reds to trade Jonathan India, who is having a great season, to a team needing a second baseman. For some reason, Bowden listed the Blue Jays as one of those teams, which makes no sense at all given the team has Davis Schneider and Spencer Horwitz on the roster. On top of that, the Blue Jays are also selling, not buying, but the team was linked to India in the off-season.

Bowden also linked the Minnesota Twins to rental pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. This speculation is nothing new, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5644524/2024/07/18/minnesota-twins-trade-deadline-needs-buyers/">Dan Hayes of The Athletic</a> speculated that the Twins could be interested in Kikuchi, as they want to add “a rental starter”. 

Let’s dicsuss the Twins.
<h2>Twins have a payroll limitation</h2>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/40617439/2024-mlb-trade-deadline-preview-passan-stars-teams-deal-garrett-crochet-luis-robert-yankees-dodgers-phillies">According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan’s latest article</a>, the Minnesota Twins will be money in, money out at this season’s trade deadline thanks to financial limitations.

Say they want to bring in Kikuchi, the left-handed pitcher has about $3.91 million remaining to be paid on his deal come July 30. To balance the money for a “high-salaried player”, Passan believes that the Twins have to move money to make a deal work if they want to make a big move.

A “”high-salaried player” may not fit Kikuchi’s description, but the Jays could take back a player like Manuel Margot to maximize their return from the Twins. Margot has a mutual option with a $2 million buyout (paid by the Tampa Bay Rays) for the 2025 season. This is just an example.

Jays “subtracting, but not completely” according to Jeff Passan

<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/40617439/2024-mlb-trade-deadline-preview-passan-stars-teams-deal-garrett-crochet-luis-robert-yankees-dodgers-phillies">In the same article</a>, Passan laid out what the Blue Jays could do at the deadline, listing the team as “subtracting, but not completely.”

It’s well known that the Blue Jays brass want to be competitive for the 2025 season, so it makes sense that they’ll only move their six players on expiring deals - Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Yimi García, Trevor Richards, Danny Jansen, and Kevin Kiermaier.

There are several interesting notes from this section, as Passan believes Guerrero Jr. won’t be available, a common belief shared by many. Moreover, Passan reports that Gacía “is a popular name among contenders”, while there are some executives that believe it’s just time to tear it down and start the rebuild.

Either way, expect the Blue Jays to be incredibly active next Tuesday.
<h2>Rays claim Joel Kuhnel</h2>
On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays claimed Joel Kuhnel off waivers, making it the fourth organization he’s been a part of this season.

https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1815825513299997058

After a few mediocre seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Kuhnel was traded to the Houston Astros in June of last year. His tenure with the American League West team lasted less than a year, as he was traded to the Blue Jays for cash consideration in early May.

On the 40-man roster, Kuhnel only pitched for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, posting a 1.04 ERA and a 4.64 FIP in 8.2 innings pitched, along with a 2.7 K% and a 10.8 BB%. He was designated for assignment and elected free agency on June 4, signing with the Milwaukee Brewers a week later.

After a brief call up in late June, he was once again designated for assignment the following day. He didn’t elect free agency this time, and was added to the 40-man roster and called up again, before being DFA’d for a second time a week later, not appearing in a single game for the Brewers.

Hopefully, the Rays can help him find some success.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

News and Notes: Jim Bowden “would be shocked” if the Jays don’t trade Chad Green, former Blue Jay Joel Kuhnel claimed off waivers by the Rays, and more!

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