The Toronto Blue Jays’ plans ahead of Monday’s trade deadline are coming into view.
While the team might not outright position themselves as sellers, ESPN’s Jeff Passan says the Blue Jays have already begun to gauge interest in trade chips and are expected to sell off assets.
“The Blue Jays don’t want to trade Kevin Gausman, I think they just know they have to at this point,” Passan said on his Sources Tell Jeff Passan podcast on Tuesday. “About the middle of last week, they started talking to teams about ‘Well, if we move Gausman...’ or ‘If we move [outfielder Daulton] Varsho...’ or ‘If we move quite literally anybody in our bullpen not named Louis Varland...’ and that includes Tyler Rogers, who’s been very good and is under control for multiple years. ‘If we do, what might we be able to get back?’”
Both Gausman and Varsho are set to become free agents at season’s end, as are righties Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer and outfielder George Springer. Reliver Jeff Hoffman has an additional season at $11 million remaining on his current deal.
While the team still remains alive on the peripheral of the American League wild-card race, currently five games back of the third spot, Passan notes that the team’s kicking off tires signals what he expects to happen in the coming days.
“That sort of research has indicated to other teams that, while the Blue Jays have not made themselves avowed sellers, they’re going to be selling.”
The Blue Jays (49-58) continue a series on Tuesday evening against the Washington Nationals (54-53).
The Major League Baseball trade deadline is set for Monday at 6pm ET/3pm PT.
