Toronto Blue Jays Trade Rumors: Who Could Be on the Block?
The Toronto Blue Jays at this point should think about being sellers. Who should they put on the trade block?
The Toronto Blue Jays should probably come face to face with a cold reality of the 2017 season. Coming into today, they are 10.5 games out of first place and are five games out of a Wild Card spot with eight teams to climb over. Another playoff run isn’t in the cards.
Yes, they have had a ton of injuries. Yes, Aaron Sanchez is coming back this weekend. However, this an older team with a farm system that has most of it’s top prospects in AA and below.
They have two starters who under the age of 30. One of them, Devon Travis, is probably lost for the season. Their older guys have either been injured, under-performed or both. They may be wise to get a little younger, get some prospects who may be ready to knock down the big league door and focus on making another run it what should be another challenging year in the AL East in 2018. It’s not a full rebuild, rather a reloading.
They have some pieces who can help a contender. I don’t think they need to do something as drastic as trading Josh Donaldson quite yet, but there are other parts that they can move in order to reload a bit for 2018.
So who are those pieces that they might be able to move before the trade deadline at the end of the month? Let’s take a look.
Bautista is going through his worst year in a long time. He’s hitting just .233 with a .754 OPS and a 98 WRC+. He’s also being used in the leadoff spot as the Blue Jays don’t really have anyone to fill that hole with Travis injured. He has a $500,000 buyout for next year, which if he’s dealt, a team may not want to pay him $18 million next season.
He can play right and a bit of first base as well which gives him a bit of flexibility and might make him more attractive to a team trading for him.
The Jays probably won’t get a ton back for him if they float him out there and they may not be able to move him, but the Blue Jays should float him out there anyway to take the shot.
Maybe if the St. Louis Cardinals get back into the race they take a chance and try and make a play for him? Maybe the Kansas City Royals if they decided not to tear it down and stay with it and want an extra bat for their order?
Either way, Bautista probably isn’t a part of the future in Toronto, so they should see what they can get if possible.
Estrada leads the team in strikeouts this year, but has allowed over a hit per inning and has seen his ERA rise a full run over this season.
Some of that might just be bad luck. The BABIP against him has risen to .327 from .234 last season as the medium contact against him has gone up over 50% this season compared to 47% last season. Part to blame for this is the Jays defense.
Per Fangraphs, the Blue Jays are -27 in defensive runs saved which is third worse in baseball. Maybe going to a team like the Cleveland Indians or Milwaukee Brewers who are +10 which is 10th in baseball could help Estrada’s numbers.
Estrada is on an expiring contract and would be a perfect fit for many contending teams, who don’t want to spend a ton in prospects like it would cost to get Justin Verlander, Sonny Gray or Jose Quintana and still get that upgrade that they need.
Estrada is probably the Jays best trade chip at this point, and one that they should cash in.
INF/OF Steve Pearce
The Jays gave Pearce a two year deal in the off-season for $13 million. He’s someone who can play first, second, and the outfield which will make him a valuable piece if the Jays decide to move him. He’s signed for next year as well, and he could be a nice platoon piece.
Pearce is a career .267 hitter against lefties, although he’s hitting just .238 against them this year, with only a .250 BABIP.
Because of his versatility and the face he won’t cost that much next season, a contending team in either league could take a flier on him. Maybe the Cubs could have interest as a bench piece. Maybe the Yankees have some interest in him playing first base and coming off the bench instead of Chris Carter.
He’s a guy who could easily be moved on deadline day if someone gets injured and someone the Jays should think about putting out there and seeing what they can get.
P- Joe Smith
Teams are always looking for relief help at the deadline. Joe Smith was an example of that last year as he was traded to the Chicago Cubs last season and was a part of their bullpen down the stretch last season, even though he didn’t pitch in the playoffs.
Smith was signed for just $3 million this off-season and is set to be a free agent again after the season ends. Smith is 3-0 with a 3.41 ERA and a 2.26 FIP thus far this season. He has struck out 47 in 31.2 innings pitched and may come off the DL this week.
Teams like the Yankees, Nationals, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Rockies could all use bullpen help so the Jays may be able to flip Smith for a decent prospect that they can use moving forward.
The 33 year old has been through pennant races before and could be a nice setup reliever for a contending team. He is exactly the kind of piece the Blue Jays should be looking at moving before the trade deadline.
If the Jays are able to, they should also think about moving starter Francisco Liriano. Liriano has not had a great season. He’s 4-4 with a 5.66 ERA, however, his FIP is 4.70. However, he struggled with the Pirates last season, before the Jays traded for him and in 10 games, he went 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA as the Jays made a playoff push.
Liriano’s medium contact rate has gone up almost 10% this season and as a result, his BABIP against has jumped up to .320. As mentioned with Estrada, if Liriano plays on a team with a better defense behind him, its possible that his numbers can improve.
Liriano’s in the last year of his deal as well, and like Estrada, if a team is looking to add some depth to their staff without giving up top prospects, Liriano could be the guy.
If the Blue Jays want to go full rebuild, they should put J.A. Happ, Donaldson, Roberto Osuna and Marcus Stroman on the trade block and blow it up. However, that is more of an off-season idea, not at the deadline.
Next: Mets still considering Colon
The Blue Jays would be wise to think about 2018 and put the five mentioned above on the block and see what happens come July 31.