At the 2024 trade deadline, a floundering 51-57 Toronto Blue Jays club had no choice but to sell off expiring contracts and bide their time until next season.  

It’s turned out well for them, as all players involved in two of the trades they made are now back with the organization.  
Isiah Kiner-Falefa <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-toronto-blue-jays-claim-isiah-kiner-falefa-off-waivers">signing back with the Blue Jays on Aug. 31</a> after being waived by the Pittsburgh Pirates a couple of days earlier was the latest move to come full circle from last year’s deadline. The veteran utility player was shipped out last July for Charles McAdoo, a toolsy infield prospect with 16 home runs and a .743 OPS at Double-A New Hampshire this season.  
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
Toronto also traded Yimi Garcia at last season’s deadline, before re-signing the high-leverage reliever to a two-year, $15-million deal in the offseason. Jonatan Clase, who struggled at the plate in the majors this year <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1932258885756145917">but had big moments,</a> and catching prospect Jacob Sharp were the return for Garcia. And while the hard-throwing right-hander will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to clean up scar tissue in his elbow, he is slated to return for spring training next season. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
ROSTER MOVES: 
🔹INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been claimed off waivers from the Pirates 
Welcome Back, IKF! 
🔹 RHP Yimi García transferred to the 60-day IL <a href="https://t.co/jjYHSjo2Kx">pic.twitter.com/jjYHSjo2Kx</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1962210139961753746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Getting three prospects, including two in the organization’s top 30 (McAdoo, 16, Clase, top 10 before graduating), is a prominent return for what has amounted to the Blue Jays essentially losing nothing. Garcia and Kiner-Falefa&#8217;s contributions would have been futile down the stretch of a lost 2024 season, and while Garcia won’t pitch until next year, Kiner-Falefa now has the opportunity to impact Toronto through September and October. He was added to the 40-man roster before they were expanded on September 1st, making him eligible for the playoffs.  
The eight-year MLB veteran may be in the midst of one of his worst seasons at the plate – with only one home run and a .632 OPS – but his high floor and wide-ranging versatility provide valuable depth. Kiner-Falefa has provided surplus run value both in the field and on the base paths this year (61st and 68th percentile, respectively) and has over 500 career innings at five different positions (shortstop, third base, second base, outfield, and catcher). The utilityman’s above-average contact rate and below-average strikeout and whiff rates also fit with Toronto’s emphasis on contact. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
The Blue Jays dodged a bullet when Daulton Varsho’s pinky remained intact after taking a 97 mph Aaron Ashby sinker. Ernie Clement was thoroughly banged up in last week&#8217;s series against the Minnesota Twins after a hit-by-pitch and collision at third resulted in a small hairline fracture in his hand and 10 stitches in his shin. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Adding Kiner-Falefa is a safeguard against these types of incidents. It is better to have an above-replacement level player (1.6 bWAR) who can play almost any position, ready to step in case of emergency, than not. And this was the Blue Jays&#8217; last chance to add such a player and still have them qualify for the playoff roster. The player they added being Kiner-Falefa, who is already familiar with the team and who they already received a prospect in return for, only sweetens the deal. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
<hr />
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

At the 2024 trade deadline, a floundering 51-57 Toronto Blue Jays club had no choice but to sell off expiring contracts and bide their time until next season.  



It’s turned out well for them, as all players involved in two of the trades they made are now back with the organization.  

Isiah Kiner-Falefa <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-toronto-blue-jays-claim-isiah-kiner-falefa-off-waivers">signing back with the Blue Jays on Aug. 31</a> after being waived by the Pittsburgh Pirates a couple of days earlier was the latest move to come full circle from last year’s deadline. The veteran utility player was shipped out last July for Charles McAdoo, a toolsy infield prospect with 16 home runs and a .743 OPS at Double-A New Hampshire this season.  
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
Toronto also traded Yimi Garcia at last season’s deadline, before re-signing the high-leverage reliever to a two-year, $15-million deal in the offseason. Jonatan Clase, who struggled at the plate in the majors this year <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1932258885756145917">but had big moments,</a> and catching prospect Jacob Sharp were the return for Garcia. And while the hard-throwing right-hander will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to clean up scar tissue in his elbow, he is slated to return for spring training next season. 

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1962210139961753746

Getting three prospects, including two in the organization’s top 30 (McAdoo, 16, Clase, top 10 before graduating), is a prominent return for what has amounted to the Blue Jays essentially losing nothing. Garcia and Kiner-Falefa's contributions would have been futile down the stretch of a lost 2024 season, and while Garcia won’t pitch until next year, Kiner-Falefa now has the opportunity to impact Toronto through September and October. He was added to the 40-man roster before they were expanded on September 1st, making him eligible for the playoffs.  

The eight-year MLB veteran may be in the midst of one of his worst seasons at the plate – with only one home run and a .632 OPS – but his high floor and wide-ranging versatility provide valuable depth. Kiner-Falefa has provided surplus run value both in the field and on the base paths this year (61st and 68th percentile, respectively) and has over 500 career innings at five different positions (shortstop, third base, second base, outfield, and catcher). The utilityman’s above-average contact rate and below-average strikeout and whiff rates also fit with Toronto’s emphasis on contact. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 

The Blue Jays dodged a bullet when Daulton Varsho’s pinky remained intact after taking a 97 mph Aaron Ashby sinker. Ernie Clement was thoroughly banged up in last week's series against the Minnesota Twins after a hit-by-pitch and collision at third resulted in a small hairline fracture in his hand and 10 stitches in his shin. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 

Adding Kiner-Falefa is a safeguard against these types of incidents. It is better to have an above-replacement level player (1.6 bWAR) who can play almost any position, ready to step in case of emergency, than not. And this was the Blue Jays' last chance to add such a player and still have them qualify for the playoff roster. The player they added being Kiner-Falefa, who is already familiar with the team and who they already received a prospect in return for, only sweetens the deal. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 

<hr />

<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

Recent articles from Ian Finlayson

Breaking News