The Toronto Blue Jays are at risk of falling out of the American League Wild Card race, which could lead them to sell players at the MLB Trade Deadline. Although Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are prominent names that might seem likely to be traded, that doesn’t appear to be the current plan.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Blue Jays plan to place starter Yusei Kikuchi, catcher Danny Jansen, reliever Yimi Garcia, DH Justin Turner, and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on the trade market. They aim to make one last push with Guerrero Jr. and Bichette, who are expected to remain with the team at least until this winter or possibly next summer.
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It’s notable that the Blue Jays want to keep Guerrero Jr. and Bichette, as trading them could bring significant returns if they opt for a rebuild. However, moving them would be a major decision, considering the team’s intention to compete with this core for years. Last offseason, the Blue Jays were also in the running for Shohei Ohtani and reportedly interested in trading for Juan Soto.
Ultimately, after missing out on Ohtani and Soto to the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, the Blue Jays may now need to sell some players to attempt another run next year with their current core. Guerrero has one year of arbitration left before free agency, while Bichette has two years remaining on his contract before becoming a free agent.
Can the Blue Jays get good value at the deadline?
Nightingale identified several Blue Jays players who might be traded at this deadline, offering the team decent value in return.
Yusei Kikuchi, while not having an outstanding season, is an experienced pitcher who could serve as a back-end starter or a long reliever. Since he’s a free agent after the season, trading him makes sense. Justin Turner and Kevin Kiermaier, both on one-year contracts, could provide valuable depth for contending teams.
Danny Jansen would be a good pickup for any team in need of a catcher, especially with his strong offensive performance this season. In terms of bullpen options, Nightingale mentioned Yimi Garcia, and if healthy, Jordan Romano, who is currently dealing with elbow discomfort, could also be a potential trade candidate.
