With the 2026 trade deadline rapidly approaching, it’s a reasonable time to look how the trade market is shaping up.

The Toronto Blue Jays currently have a 29-33 record this season and are facing a crucial stretch of baseball. Over their next 10 games, they have one game remaining against the best team in baseball, the Atlanta Braves, before playing the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Yankees.

Their biggest issue this season is that they’re lacking a power-hitting right-handed batter off the bench. Players like Lenyn Sosa and Davis Schneider haven’t panned out, and neither player is currently on the 26-man roster. Schneider was sent down to Triple-A on May 25th, and Sosa was injured after being hit by a pitch on May 27th.

When healthy, the Blue Jays are a formidable force, but there are always ways to improve. Last season the team went out and got Shane Bieber, Seranthony Domínguez, Louis Varland, and Ty France before trade deadline. Last season’s needs were clear and it’s much the same so far in 2026. On top of getting more pop, either in the starting lineup or off the bench, the team could do with some pitching depth for their rotation and bullpen.

Every single game counts for the team looking to continue their contending ways, as they’re now out of the wild card spot and well behind the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. That begs the question: What are the Blue Jays needs? Who is willing to sell?

Let’s take a look at a few teams and their players that fit the Blue Jays’ needs.

Although the Tigers have said they are not selling at this time, they are 11 games behind the division leading Cleveland Guardians and six games behind the wild card. If/when they do decide to sell, their biggest trade piece is undoubtedly Tarik Skubal.

The Blue Jays have been listed as a team who is a fit for the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, but it’ll be a heavy cost despite Skubal heading to free agency at season’s end.

While Skubal may be the most enticing name, there are other players that may be of interest to Blue Jays. Gleyber Torres, a name they were interested in signing back in during the 2024/25 off-season, is a right-handed hitting infielder who has 20+ home run on four occasions.

Since coming off the injured list, Torres is 4-9 in the batter’s box with a home run and a double, something the Blue Jays could use in the middle of their lineup to provide offence. Like Skubal, Torres will be a free agent at season’s end.

Another soon-to-be free agent is Casey Mize, who has been the Tigers’ second-best starter this season. There could also be a move out of left field, much like the Varland trade in 2025.

Moreover, there is precedence here, as the Blue Jays acquired Chase Lee and Connor Seabold from the Tigers. And who could forget the last time the Blue Jays went all-in at a deadline, acquiring David Price in 2015.

Although the Red Sox are an American League East rival, the two teams have linked up for trades in the past. Just two seasons ago, the Blue Jays traded Danny Jansen to the Red Sox for Eddinson Paulino, Cutter Coffey, and Gilberto Batista. In 2018, the Jays sent 2018 World Series MVP, Steve Pearce, to the Red Sox for then infield prospect Santiago Espinal.

This season hasn’t gone to plan for the Red Sox, as they are 26-34. Last season, they traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, then saw Alex Bregman depart with no real backup plan for the offence. Their rotation improved as they signed Ranger Suárez and traded for Sonny Gray, but they’ve scored the fifth-fewest runs in 2026.  After beginning the season 10-17, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora, and are 16-17 with Chad Tracy at the helm.

If they decide to sell, they won’t move players like Wilyer Abreu, Ceddenne Raffela, or a Roman Anthony. But they could sell of relievers like Aroldis Chapman, Danny Coulombe, and Jovani Morán. The latter is a 29-year-old lefty who has a 3.19 ERA and 4.39 FIP in 31 innings pitched this season, with a 27.8 K%.

When the Miami Marlins rolled into town last week, the Jays started to get some serious momentum, going 8-2 over a 10 game stretch before their current on-going four-game losing streak. The Marlins have a good young team, but their offence is in the middle of the pack. One area where they excel is pitching.

In a recent article for ESPN, Jeff Passan stated that if the Blue Jays can go on a run, a starting pitcher that’d fit the Blue Jays is Sandy Alcántara. Winner of the 2022 National League Cy Young award, Alcántara has been hit or miss this season, posting a 4.59 ERA and 4.24 FIP in 82.1 innings pitched, the second-most innings for any pitcher in Major League Baseball.

The righty has a team option for $21 million in 2027, meaning that he could replace either Shane Bieber or Kevin Gausman next season if either starter isn’t re-signed. Additionally, the Jays can cut bait if it doesn’t work out, as it’d cost just $2 million on his buyout.

Other pitchers of interest could be Pete Fairbanks, Anthony Bender, and John King (not the Blue Jays’ prospect). But who knows, maybe the Jays make a Louis Varland-esque trade with the Marlins. The Jays acquired a handful of relievers from the team over the years, so a trade between the two teams wouldn’t be a shock