The most recent Blue Jays trades with every MLB team
Photo credit: Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
By Ian Hunter
Jul 30, 2024, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 30, 2024, 09:40 EDT
Transactions are fun, but it’s always more exciting when your team is beefing up your roster for a playoff push rather than a teardown. Despite their best efforts, the Blue Jays are in the latter camp, and they’ve resorted to restocking the farm system this year instead.
The last handful of trade deadlines have been exciting for the Blue Jays fan base, but this year it’s about evaluating the talent and prospects that are coming back to the organization. And even though it seems like the Blue Jays aren’t very active on the trade market, they’ve been busy these last few years.
To whet your appetite on trade deadline day, why not reminisce about the most recent trades the Blue Jays have made with all 29 teams around Major League Baseball? Some are more recent than others, some transactions you probably forgot about already, and others are a trade time capsule.
(We’re not counting waiver claims because those aren’t very exciting. We’re talking trades with real, actual baseball players here.)
Arizona Diamondbacks (2022)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Daulton Varsho.
The most recent large-scale trade made by the Blue Jays, this one is still fresh in the mind of many. The optics didn’t look great last year after the Diamondbacks went to the World Series, but both sides seem to have gotten value out of this trade so far.
Atlanta Braves (2023)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Kelvin Perez (minors) to the Atlanta Braves for unknown compensation.
Did you know about this transaction? Because I didn’t know about this transaction either.
Baltimore Orioles (2019)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Dwight Smith Jr. to the Baltimore Orioles for international bonus slot money.
There was a time when it seemed like Dwight Smith Jr. might have a shot as a fourth outfielder on the Blue Jays. But there was a roster crunch at the end of spring training 2019, which saw him traded to the Orioles.
Boston Red Sox (2018)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Steve Pearce and cash to the Boston Red Sox for Santiago Espinal.
When Steve Pearce signed a two-year deal with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2017 season, it felt inevitable that he wouldn’t finish that contract in Toronto. Peace helped guide the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018, while the Blue Jays received infield prospect Santiago Espinal back.
This move panned out well for both parties, as Pearce won a World Series MVP, and Espinal made his MLB debut the following season, posting decent numbers in Toronto during his 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
Chicago Cubs (2019)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded David Phelps and cash to the Chicago Cubs for Thomas Hatch.
This was David Phelps’ first tour with the Blue Jays, as Toronto continued their rebuild and got Thomas Hatch from the Cubs.
Chicago White Sox (2022)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Reese McGuire for Zach Collins.
There was a brief time when Zach Collins was part of the Blue Jays catching depth, but that lasted all of 26 games before the team put him on waivers.
Cincinnati Reds (2024)
The Cincinnati Reds traded Chris McElvain (minors) to the Toronto Blue Jays for Santiago Espinal.
This is Espinal’s second appearance on this list, as he didn’t survive the roster crunch coming out of spring training this past year. He was surpassed on the depth chart by guys like Davis Schneider and Ernie Clement, hence the deal with the Reds.
Cleveland Guardians (2022)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Anthony Castro to the Cleveland Guardians for Bradley Zimmer.
Let us not forget Blue Jays baserunning legend Bradley Zimmer. He came to the Blue Jays by way of a trade that sent Anthony Castro (not Miguel Castro) to the Reds.
Colorado Rockies (2022)
The Colorado Rockies traded Adrian Pinto (minors) and Raimel Tapia to the Toronto Blue Jays for Randal Grichuk and cash.
It seemed like the Blue Jays were trying to get rid of Randal Grichuk for a while, and they pulled the trigger on a trade which brought back Raimel Tapia from the Rockies in 2022.
Detroit Tigers (2015)
The Detroit Tigers traded David Price to the Toronto Blue Jays for Matthew Boyd, Jairo Labourt and Daniel Norris.
What can you say about this trade that hasn’t already been said? Given the context of where the Blue Jays were at the 2015 trade deadline and how they finished that season, it was one of the best trades of the modern Blue Jays era.
Houston Astros (2019)
The Houston Astros traded Derek Fisher to the Toronto Blue Jays for Joe Biagini, Aaron Sanchez and Cal Stevenson.
The Blue Jays thought they maybe had something in Derek Fisher, but that never quite panned out. Fisher collectively with players received in other trades at the deadline famously made up the “42 years of team control” that GM Ross Atkins bragged about.
Kansas City Royals (2022)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Max Castillo and Samad Taylor to the Kansas City Royals for Whit Merrifield.
The Blue Jays may have regretted dealing away some of their starting depth in Max Castillo with this one, but Whit Merrifield had a productive run in a Blue Jays uniform the rest of 2022 and the following season as an All-Star.
Los Angeles Angels (2021)
The Los Angeles Angels traded Juan Graterol to the Toronto Blue Jays for unknown compensation.
The Angels and Blue Jays basically played hot potato with Juan Graterol, passing him back and forth a few times through the 2021 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2024)
The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Braydon Fisher (minors) to the Toronto Blue Jays for Cavan Biggio and cash.
Another roster squeeze forces a mainstay off the roster, and with an upgraded version of a versatile lefty in Spencer Horwitz nipping at his heels, Cavan Biggo became the odd man out on the Blue Jays infield earlier this year.
Miami Marlins (2022)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Jordan Groshans to the Miami Marlins for a player to be named later, Anthony Bass and Zach Pop. The Miami Marlins sent Edward Duran (minors) (August 31, 2022) to the Toronto Blue Jays to complete the trade.
Zach Pop has shown glimpses of electric stuff with his sinker. Anthony Bass became setup man for the Blue Jays down the stretch in 2022, couldn’t record an out in Game 2 of the Wild Card series, then put his foot in his mouth and hasn’t been heard from since.
Milwaukee Brewers (2021)
The Milwaukee Brewers traded Bowden Francis and Trevor Richards to the Toronto Blue Jays for Rowdy Tellez.
Another one of those rare win-win trades for both sides. After Vladimir Guerrero’s shift to first base, that spelled the end of Rowdy Tellez’ time with Toronto. In dire need of bullpen help, the Blue Jays got Trevor Richards back for some relief help and Bowden Francis as a depth piece.
Minnesota Twins (2021)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson to the Minnesota Twins for Jose Berrios.
We’re now getting to the point where all players in this deal are now having fruitful major league careers. At the time, it was wild how the Blue Jays jettisoned their first-round pick, Austin Martin, just one year after drafting him.
The front office quickly inked Berrios to a massive contract extension, and he’s now a mainstay in the Blue Jays’ rotation.
New York Mets (2021)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Troy Miller (minors) to the New York Mets for Jacob Barnes.
At this point in the 2021 season, the Blue Jays were trying anything and everything to right the ship in the bullpen. They figured getting a veteran righty from the Mets should help calm things down in the bullpen. It did not. Barnes had a 6.30 ERA in 10 games for the Blue Jays.
New York Yankees (2018)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded J.A. Happ to the New York Yankees for Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney.
As division rivals, the Blue Jays and Yankees don’t team up for trades too often. This one happened during the beginning of Toronto’s last rebuild in 2019, when they shipped J.A. Happ off for Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney.
Oakland Athletics (2022)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Gunnar Hoglund (minors), Zach Logue, Kevin Smith and Kirby Snead to the Oakland Athletics for Matt Chapman.
This one turned out pretty well for the Blue Jays. Two decent years of Matt Chapman for a handful of prospects was one of the better trades of the Ross Atkins era. Looking back at the Josh Donaldson and Marco Scutaro deals, I guess the Jays have a history of fleecing the A’s in trades.
Philadelphia Phillies (2023)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Nick Allgeyer to the Philadelphia Phillies for unknown compensation.
Nick Allgeyer is among the rare air of Blue Jays players who have played precisely one game for the team. He made one appearance on July 2, 2021, was optioned to Buffalo two days later, was designated for assignment shortly after, then traded to the Phillies in spring 2023.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2023)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Vinny Capra to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tyler Heineman.
During one of Danny Jansen’s biannual injuries, the Blue Jays cashed in Vinny Capra to get some catching help in the form of Tyler Heineman.
San Diego Padres (2019)
The San Diego Padres traded Sacrates Brito to the Toronto Blue Jays for Rodrigo Orozco (minors).
Yeah, this one clearly did not pan out. Along with Alen Hanson, two players who the front office really liked that crashed and burned upon arrival.
San Francisco Giants (2019)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Kevin Pillar to the San Francisco Giants for Juan De Paula (minors), Alen Hanson and Derek Law.
Kevin Pillar was one of the last few holdovers from the glory years of 2015 and 2016, and the Blue Jays went younger and cheaper in centre field by trading “Superman” to the Giants.
Seattle Mariners (2023)
The Seattle Mariners traded Mason McCoy to the Toronto Blue Jays for Trent Thornton.
Trent Thornton was out of options and the Blue Jays needed their version of Bradley Zimmer for the 2023 roster, hence this trade.
St. Louis Cardinals (2023)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Matt Svanson (minors) to the St. Louis Cardinals for Paul DeJong and cash.
The Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals were frequent trade partners leading into last year’s trade deadline, making three separate trades. But this one for Paul DeJong still sticks out as a transaction that should’ve been left on the cutting room floor.
Tampa Bay Rays (2019)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays for players to be named later. The Tampa Bay Rays sent Curtis Taylor (minors) (September 1, 2019) and Edisson Gonzalez (minors) (September 1, 2019) to the Toronto Blue Jays to complete the trade.
Remember when Eric Sogard played out of his mind in the first half of 2019? The Blue Jays dealt him to the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2019 trade deadline for a few prospects that never amounted to very much.
Texas Rangers (2024)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Josh Mollerus (minors) to the Texas Rangers for Yerry Rodriguez.
Yes, the very Yerry Rodriguez who was promoted to the Blue Jays a few days ago and was just optioned back to Triple-A.
Washington Nationals (2021)
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Riley Adams to the Washington Nationals for Brad Hand.
Riley Adams was a non-tender candidate at the end of the season anyway, and the Blue Jays sorely needed bullpen help. It may have been too little too late as Brad Hand had a horrible second half with the Blue Jays, posting a 7.27 ERA in 11 games.