‘Writing’s on the wall’ for Blue Jays, Olney says, but there are options at trade deadline
Blue Jays’ current standing and offensive struggles
The Toronto Blue Jays recently experienced a 12-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, marking their sixth defeat in seven games. With the MLB trade deadline approaching on August 3, the team is currently six games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League. This situation suggests the Blue Jays may become sellers at the deadline.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the team’s performance this season has been surprising, especially given their offensive output in 2025. Last year, the Blue Jays ranked fourth in the majors for runs scored, averaging 4.92 per game. This season, however, their average has dropped to 3.96, placing them last in the league for runs scored. The team’s offence was particularly strong in the 2025 postseason, scoring five or more runs in 11 of 18 games before their elimination by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.
In July, the Blue Jays have averaged 3.67 runs per game, scoring one or zero runs in six of 15 games, resulting in a 6-9 record for the month. Meanwhile, other teams in the American League have seen improved performances, such as the Boston Red Sox with a 14-game winning streak, and both the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians winning seven of their past 10 games.
Potential trade assets for the Blue Jays
Kevin Gausman, a veteran pitcher in his 14th season and the final year of a five-year deal, is a name being discussed in trade rumours. In a recent game, Gausman allowed five runs, four of which were earned, over 3.1 innings. This season, he holds a 4.51 earned-run average and a 4-9 record over 21 starts for Toronto. Despite his recent performance, Olney suggests that teams would be interested in Gausman due to his experience, including 56.1 postseason innings and a 2.93 ERA in six appearances during last season’s World Series run.
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly in need of rotation help and could be a potential destination for Gausman. A possible trade scenario involves Gausman moving to the Cubs in exchange for pitcher Brooks Caple and outfielder Brett Bateman. Caple is described as Chicago’s third-ranked rotation prospect with a 3.15 ERA in High A and Double A this year, while Bateman, Chicago’s 18th prospect, has an .861 OPS at Triple A. However, Gausman has an eight-team no-trade list and has expressed enjoyment living in Toronto, making an extension a possibility.
George Springer, another veteran in the final year of a six-year deal signed in 2021, is also considered a potential trade asset. His current slash line is .228/.310/.390, a decrease from his .309/.399/.560 mark last year. Despite his struggles this season, Springer has shown improvement in July, hitting .286 with a slugging percentage of .536. Teams like the Philadelphia Phillies or the Atlanta Braves, both with open designated hitter spots, could be interested. A mock trade suggests Springer could go to the Boston Red Sox for left-handed pitcher Jojo Ingrassia, Boston’s 30th-ranked prospect.
Bullpen options and other trade considerations
The Blue Jays‘ bullpen offers several strong trade candidates, particularly right-handers Louis Varland and Tyler Rogers. Both pitchers are under club control for multiple years and have ERAs under 2.00. Varland, an All-Star, has a 1.08 ERA and 20 saves. Rogers, 35, has a 1.61 ERA in 46 games. Jeff Hoffman, who has experience as a closer, has also performed well recently, allowing only three earned runs over 16.2 innings in his past 17 outings since early June.
Olney notes that while Varland is a valuable asset, a trade to teams like the Seattle Mariners or New York Yankees might be complicated due to divisional dynamics. However, teams such as the Phillies or Braves could be interested. A potential trade scenario involves Jeff Hoffman and Daulton Varsho moving to the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Justin Crawford, who has five more years of team control.
The Blue Jays have not officially indicated their intention to sell at the deadline. However, Olney suggests that the team’s current performance, including being last in the majors in runs scored and their struggles since the All-Star break, points towards a selling strategy. The trade deadline is set for August 3.
Source: tsn.ca
