What latest MLB deals mean for Blue Jays in fast-moving trade market

TORONTO — The pace of baseball’s trade market picked up Friday, giving some contenders reinforcements for the stretch run and offering others a clearer picture of the prices they’ll have to pay for upgrades of their own ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

If what we’ve seen so far is any indication, it’s a sellers’ market. Executives describe the prices paid by buying teams like the Miami Marlins and Houston Astros as substantial, which helps explain why others, like the Toronto Blue Jays, have been quiet so far.

Among the trades completed Friday:
• The Marlins acquired reliever David Robertson from the Mets for low minors prospects Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernandez.
• The Astros acquired reliever Kendall Graveman from the White Sox for catching prospect Korey Lee.
• The Dodgers acquired pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the White Sox for pitching prospects Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure plus outfielder Trayce Thompson

Considering Robertson’s likely 20-25 innings away from free agency and Vargas and Hernandez are described as legitimately interesting prospects, the return was a strong one for the Mets. And while Graveman isn’t strictly a rental with a deal covering 2024, Lee’s a big-league ready catcher who ranked fifth on Houston’s list of top prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. 

To be fair, it’s hardly surprising that the market would favour sellers at this point. With time still remaining before the deadline, selling teams could simply wait if they didn’t like the offers they were getting. If someone accepts your offer on July 28, chances are you’re paying a reasonably high price.

Follow all the MLB deals on our Trade Deadline Tracker

The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. Keep up with all the deals and get some quick analysis by checking out our MLB Trade Deadline Tracker.

MLB Trade Deadline Tracker

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Adding to the cost of deadline help, MLB’s expanded playoff structure means more teams are in the mix and nudges in borderline clubs like the Cubs and Angels. Not only did Los Angeles pay a steep price in dealing prospects Ky Bush and Edgar Quero to the White Sox for Lucas Giolito with Reynaldo Lopez Wednesday, their would-be trade candidates are off the market, too — most notably Shohei Ohtani.

As a result, the Blue Jays faced Giolito Friday as he made his Angels debut at Rogers Centre. As manager John Schneider joked, life would have been a whole lot easier for the Blue Jays if the Angels had instead traded Ohtani away.

“That would have been great,” Schneider said. “I thought he was going to have a day off after (throwing a one-hitter and hitting two homers Thursday), too. It’s like, Dude, come on, Aren’t you tired yet?”

Evidently not, as Ohtani homered on the first pitch he saw Friday night.

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Regardless, the market will continue to evolve from here. As Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline draws nearer, some existing sellers will lower their prices.

And while the Angels have chosen their path ahead, other bubble teams may decide to take advantage of the favourable sellers’ market and move players for prospects. 

Even after the White Sox traded away five pitchers, some of the known sellers still have intriguing players available. The Cardinals are likely to move Jordan Hicks after extension talks stalled, and Paul DeJong, Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty are also said to be available. On paper, Hicks looks like someone the Blue Jays front office should consider and though Tommy Edman might be tougher to acquire, the speedy switch hitter is certainly worth a look.

Elsewhere, the Mets are a similarly intriguing seller with outfielders Tommy Pham and Mark Canha both potential fits in Toronto. Rumours also surround Justin Verlander, whom the Blue Jays have seriously pursued in free agency, yet it’s harder to see him landing with the Blue Jays this time.

For starters, Verlander’s on a two-year, $86.7 million contract that includes a conditional $35 million player option for 2025 and a full no-trade clause. That’s a massive commitment for any team, even one spending at record levels, like the Blue Jays. Beyond that, some plugged-in observers doubt Verlander would accept a trade to Toronto. And perhaps most important, the Blue Jays already have six starters with Hyun Jin Ryu set to return to the rotation on deadline day.

One way or another, the Blue Jays will add. Whether they wait until Tuesday is an open question, but they’re actively engaged in trade talks with pitching on their radar and designs on adding a bat. A right-handed hitter makes the most sense, with second basemen, outfielders and even DH types considered potential fits.

Of course whatever additions arrive in Toronto, much of the improvement the Blue Jays seek will have to come from the existing roster.

“We’re comfortable with the team we have,” Schneider said. “I think they all just want to play more consistently and they obviously understand the outside noise. Any addition is welcome. But (we’re) really comfortable with the group that we have, too.”

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