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Blue Jays Players That Fans Hated to See Leave

The Toronto Blue Jays have had many talented and skilled players who left bittersweet feelings to see leave the organization. After being traded or leaving due to free agency, these memorable players have a lasting impact on what they brought to the Blue Jays, whether through defense fans or teammates. They will forever be remembered for the success that they brought to the Blue Jays whether it was through defense, or offense. Let’s look at these notable former Blue Jays players and how they contributed to the Blue Jays success.

Blue Jays Players that Fans Miss As Jays Players

Vernon Wells

being traded, Vernon Wells allowed fans to return

Vernon Wells was a highly memorable and talked about Blue Jays player. In 2011, Vernon Wells was traded to the Los Angeles Angels. He spent 12 seasons with The Blue Jays from 1999 to 2010. His best seasons were in 2002 and 2003. But especially in 2003 as he hit 49 home runs. From 2004 to 2010, he continued to put up great numbers. But on January 21st, 2011, the Blue Jays sent Vernon Wells to the LA Angels in exchange for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera. It was, without question, a shocking move made by Alex Anthopoulos. But Vernon Wells being traded allowed fans to go back to memory lane and embark on the great seasons he spent with the Jays.

During the trade, Vernon was owed about $86 million over the next four years. His salary was supposed to increase from $15.7 million, in 2010, to $26.1 million in 2011 if he remained with the Jays. Vernon played two seasons for the Angels, hitting .222/.258/.409 with 36 home runs. After that, he was then sent to the New York Yankees in 2013 and hit .233/.282/.349 with 11 home runs.

Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay was a legendary pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He earned his first Cy Young Award in 2003. He also put up impressive numbers and a more than respectable and consistent eye appealing ERA across several seasons with the Jays. But just like Vernon Wells, after spending 12 seasons with the Jays he was traded. On December 15, 2009, the Blue Jays traded Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies for Travis D’Arnaud, Kyle Drabek, and Michael Taylor.

John Olerud

A fan favourite and another memorable Blue Jays player, John Olerud spent 8 seasons with the Blue Jays. In 1993 Olerud hit 54 doubles and recorded 107 RBI. Olerud appeared in two All-Star games and the first was in his best season in 1993. Olerud also recorded a .363 average, led the league in doubles with 54, had an astonishing .473 on-base percentage. In addition to racking up career highs in home runs and RBIs, the Jays also won the World Series in 1993 with Olerud. But on December 20 in 1996 Olerud was Traded to the New York Mets in exchange for Robert Person.

Russel Martin

Russell Martin was a likable Blue Jays Player. In 2015 he joined the Blue Jays and he recorded 23 home runs, and 77 RBI. The Toronto Blue Jays traded Russell Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Andrew Sopko and Ronny Brito on Oct 31st, 2019. Martin was a skilled catcher for the Blue Jays even on days when he wasn’t in the lineup. Martin is the type of player that is known for passing on information to pitchers. He relays information about what he sees when sitting on the bench. Martin was known for witnessing if a hitter was opening up at the plate or if they were diving. Evidently, this is information that is vital. Martin was a smart and memorable player for the Blue Jays.

David Price

David Price was a skilled and talented pitcher that was most memorable for playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. But on July 30, 2015, Price was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt. On August 3rd, Price made his debut for the Blue Jays. Although he only spent one season with the Blue Jays he recorded a 2.30 ERA with 9 wins and 1 loss and pitched 74.1 innings. But a year later Price went to the Boston Red Sox. Price was a free agent and was signed to a franchise-record seven-year, $217 million contract.

Pat Hentgen

Pat Hentgen spent 8 seasons with the Blue Jays and earned himself two back-to-back World Series championships with them in 1992 and 1993. But on November 11th, 1999 he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals with Paul Spoljaric in exchange for Alberto Castillo, Matt DeWitt and Lance Painter. He signed as a free agent in November of 2003 and returned to the Blue Jays in 2004 at the age of 35. According to an article by Bluebird Banter, Pat Hentgen ranks number 11 out of 60 all-time greatest Blue Jays players. In 1996 Hentgen earned himself a Cy Young Award with the American League.

Gabriel Moreno

Probably one of the most controversial trades in MLB in 2022 along with teammate Lourdes Gurriel Jr., both Moreno and Gurriel Jr. were trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Daulton Varsho. Moreno was a star rookie catcher for the Blue Jays and Gurriel Jr. was a skilled utility player for the Blue Jays. In 2022 with the Blue Jays, Moreno recorded one home run and seven RBI in 73 plate appearances. This past season in 2023 Moreno found himself in the World Series agains the Texas Rangers. During the regular season he recorded seven home runs and 50 RBI and also recorded 97 hits. In the World Series with the Diamondbacks Moreno recorded three hits, a home run, and three RBI in the five-game series with a . 527 OPS. Overall in the playoffs Moreno hit a . 749 OPS while sustaining top-notch defense.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

As mentioned earlier Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was traded with teammate Gabriel Moreno to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022. He spent 5 seasons with the Blue Jays and in 2021 he recorded 21 home runs and 84 RBI. Gurriel Jr. was a likable player by the Blue Jays but he has found a nice home with the Diamondbacks and had a successful season with them recording 24 home runs and 82 RBI. He also had a compelling postseason with Arizona as he batted . 273 with 18 hits, 3 home runs, 11 RBIs and 5 runs scored in 17 games in the 2023 postseason. Many Blue Jays fans were eager for him to return to the Blue Jays following a successful 2023 season but he remains with the Diamondbacks.

Teoscar Hernandez

Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez spent five seasons with the Blue Jays and his best season was in 2021 where he racked up 32 home runs and 116 RBI. But on November 16, 2022 the Blue Jays offseason remained loud by trading Hernández to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Erik Swanson and pitching prospect Adam Macko. During the 2023 offseason Blue Jays fans were anticipating and hoping that Hernandez would return to the Blue Jays but unfortunately Teoscar signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent on November 2nd, 2023. Teoscar Hernandez finalized a one-year, $23.5-million contract with the Dodgers. 

Kevin Pillar

A player that started out quiet became a defensive gem for the Toronto Blue Jays. On April 15th, 2015 Kevin Pillar robbed Tim Beckham of a home run and made a spectacular wall catch. With defense like this he was referred to as superman. There is even a commemorative bobblehead that has him wearing a red cape like a superhero. But on April 2nd, 2019 Pillar was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for RHP Derek Law, utility man Alen Hanson and prospect RHP de Paula. This was a trade that left Pillar emotional because the Blue Jays was all Pillar had ever known in his major league career at that time.

That’s A Wrap!

These notable former Blue Jays players will forever remain memorable in the eyes of Blue Jays fans. Many of these players were traded following successful seasons with the Blue Jays. But it is compelling to see many of these players succeed with other teams. We should take a minute to pay tribute to Roy Halladay who was killed in a plane crash. On November 7, 2017, Halladay passed away when he crashed his plane into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. Halladay was only 40 years old. He was without a doubt one of the strongest Blue Jays pitchers in history. Congratulations to all these former Blue Jays players and the success that they have brought to MLB.

Main Photo Credits: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Vanessa Serrao

Vanessa Serrao

Vanessa is a freelance baseball writer for Last Word On Baseball. She is also an author and is pursuing a career in sports journalism. She loves the Toronto Blue Jays, but covers MLB breaking news.

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