Toronto Blue Jays: Who they should (and shouldn’t) trade by the deadline
By Nick Reid
Trade Candidate #1: Justin Smoak
Smoakey is one of the few names on the roster that’s still recognizable from the good days of 2015 and 2016, albeit as one of the least valuable bats during the team’s playoff-filled campaigns amassing a .222 average and 32 home runs combined across those two years. However, a change in his swing resulted in a breakout 2017 in which the first baseman crushed 38 long balls with 90 runs batted in, a .270 average, .883 OPS. Smoak hasn’t quite been able to replicate the level of production that sent him to the All Star Game in ’17, but he’s been a formidable hitter since nonetheless and, on an expiring contract, will certainly be a player who the front office will be fielding calls for come July.
With Rowdy Tellez being groomed to play everyday for the rest of the season to give Shatkins an idea of whether he’s the first baseman of the future, along with there being just a few months left until Smoak reaches free agency, it is without a doubt the Blue Jays will be looking to shop the 32-year old when the time comes. While he isn’t one of the league’s premier players at the position, Smoak will surely attract contending teams who are in the market for a player who provides power from both sides of the plate and above average defense at first. He’s been a valuable mentor for Rowdy this season, but he’ll be more valuable serving as a trade chip in which the Jays will be able to retrieve some mid-level prospects in return.