Toronto Blue Jays: Josh Donaldson is a hot purchase

The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to drastically change things up. Rumors are spreading that 2015 MVP Josh Donaldson is catching the eye of the St. Louis Cardinals.

As many Toronto Blue Jays fans are probably aware, there has been some discussion and rumors that the Jays are looking to sell at the trade deadline. Trading the “Bringer of Rain” is an option for the team. If they get a good player in return or better yet a package, things could get very interesting.

What the Jays have to offer

If the Jays do decide to sell at the deadline, they have a lot of interesting pieces to bring forward. Everyone knows Josh Donaldson as the 2015 AL MVP performer. In addition, he’s also under team control as an arbitration-eligible player in 2018. This means he is not a rental. In regards to Jose Bautista, he is no longer the same player he used to be for the team. But that being said, he still provides power, gets on base and his flexibility as a player (he has played outfield and even a little third base this season). He is currently on a one-year deal with the Jays with mutual options the following two years.

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Although Justin Smoak is a fan favorite right now, paying attention to offers for him shouldn’t be out of the question. He is signed through 2018 with a team option for 2019 and is having an amazing year. It’s logical, because if they Jays are willing to pay attention to offers for Donaldson, the same should go for Smoak.

We shouldn’t forget pitching either. There is left-hander J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada and if any team is looking to meet the high price for a young starting pitcher, there’s Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez. In terms of the bullpen, we have Joe Smith, Ryan Tepera and Joe Biagini. These three relievers could definitely catch the eyes of some teams. Lastly, the Jays have some consistent role players such as Ezequiel Carrera, a left-handed batter who is good on defense and has some speed.

Every team wants Donaldson

Everyone knows it, and everyone most likely thinks it: Almost every team wants Donaldson. He is clutch, athletic and a game-changer. A team looking to be a contender in the postseason will find ways to put him on their roster. He has done so much for the Jays. Rumors have spread that the Cardinals have interest in him. Many teams probably have interest in him, but overall it comes down to serious contenders.

We know that the Cardinals want to win, so this rumor suggests real interest. The idea of Donaldson trading one bird for another is making a lot of chatter online. The Jays are quite serious about selling at the deadline, so Donaldson leaving the Jays is something fans should keep in mind.

This is what Neel Kale of KSDK had to say about the rumors:

"“Speaking of which, right now might be the ideal time to trade for Donaldson. His value is lower than it has been in the past five years. Yes he’s not playing great right now, but keep in mind that his current slugging and OBP would be 3rd or 4th best on this Cardinals team.”"

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Should the Blue Jays pull the trigger on a Donaldson trade before the deadline? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.