Toronto Blue Jays: Time to kick off the rebuilding process?
By Bill Felber
Are the Toronto Blue Jays actually considering tearing up their team and starting from scratch?
The Toronto Blue Jays finished April with a 14-15 record. In the ultra-competitive AL East, that doesn’t sound too bad.
Yet if some very respected MLB insiders are to be believed, the Jays may already be prepared to blow things up and build anew.
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Jays are actively considering trading at least three of their most prized and core pieces, pitchers Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman and first baseman Justin Smoak. The impetus to do so is the Jays desire to identify additional prospects of the stripe of the recently promoted Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
What’s not clear is whether the Jays have specific prospects in mind or whether Toronto is merely setting conditions that could become a basis for such a trade.
Rosenthal elaborated on what he understands to be the Jays’ plans during an interview with Brian Kenny Wednesday on the MLB Network.
“What I’m told they’re trying to do is trade (the three players) and others to get more talent in Vlady’s age range and service class and the build up that way,” Rosenthal told Kenny.
The Jays’ pipeline still includes touted prospects Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio, either of whom could soon be brought to the major league level.
Stroman is 28 and has one more year of control remaining. He will make $7.4 million in 2019. In six starts this season he has a 1-3 record but a league-leading 1.43 ERA.
Sanchez, 26, is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in his six starts. He will make $3.9 million this year and can be a free agent after the 2020 season.
Smoak is a veteran batting .264 with five home runs and 18 RBIs. He is earning $8 million and will be a free agent at season’s end.
Next. Examining the Blue Jays recent success. dark
If the Toronto Blue Jays do end up selling, they have players that could be in high demand. That rebuild could end up getting another boost if so.