The Toronto Blue Jays enter MLB games today with one of the worst records in the American League, significantly failing expectations for the upcoming 2024 season. As the MLB trade deadline approaches, there appears to be a greater probability of Toronto making significant moves.
Toronto’s roster is loaded with talent, with multiple All-Star selections in both the Blue Jays’ lineup and starting rotation. Nonetheless, the team has underperformed, with a batting order that ranks 29th in runs scored (159) and 26th in slugging (.357), and a pitching staff that ranks 23rd in ERA (4.46) and 25th in WHIP (1.35).
Unfortunately for Toronto, which is well below.500, the American League is particularly competitive this season. The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers have emerged as wild card contenders, while the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Cleveland Guardians hold the league’s best records.
Barring an unforeseen recovery, the Blue Jays will be out of the playoff picture by the MLB trade deadline. With that as the expectation, MLB trade rumors suggest Toronto will be busy sellers this summer.
“We’ve talked when we’ve spoken about the Jays and possibly being sellers, mostly about Guerrero and Bichette, who are free agents after next year…If you’re going to make a trade, who better to trade than Kevin Gausman…If the Jays do this, I don’t expect they will, then Kevin Gausman will be available.”
Ken Rosenthal on whether or not the Toronto Blue Jays will be sellers at the MLB trade deadline
Rosenthal makes a valid argument when he speculates that the Blue Jays may not be sellers. As he points out, Toronto’s general manager Ross Atkins and head of baseball operations Mark Shapiro are reaching the end of their respective contracts. If they decide to sell this summer, it will be an indictment on the very roster they developed.
Toronto could still deal a guy like starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi or reliever Jordan Romano, but trading Gausman or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would make a far more significant statement about the club’s direction. For the time being, it appears that the Blue Jays are unlikely to be major sellers at the MLB trade deadline.
