The Toronto Blue Jays, now 28-31, need to get their game going fast. Monday night’s opening series against the Baltimore Orioles didn’t go well in a 7-2 loss. Monday’s opener was a reminder of what happens when things don’t add up and on Tuesday, they face Corbin Burnes in the first game that the injured Alek Manoah‘s spot comes up. The recent events began a skeptical start to a stretch that will be challenging for this Blue Jays team. A stretch where it carries massive weight towards the front office in what direction they’ll take ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.
The Blue Jays Could Turn an Ok Deadline into a Blockbuster
The recent injuries to Manoah and Jordan Romano, who received an anti-inflammatory injection in his right elbow Sunday, can be seen as threats to their recent progress and make escaping the hole they’re in much more challenging. Depending on what direction it is, the Blue Jays could turn an ok deadline into a blockbuster if they wave the white flag, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
“Yes, GM Ross Atkins said “it just doesn’t make any sense” to trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette, which sounded a lot like June 1, 2022, when Rizzo said: “We are not trading Juan Soto.” They traded him, of course, because circumstances evolved,” Passan wrote.
Atkins wasn’t thrilled that this has become a hot topic of discussion in recent weeks. An American League executive told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that the Blue Jays were not “opposed to it” and had talked with other teams. It’s a tough situation to be in, considering Toronto is on the outside looking in of the postseason picture. While nothing is clear yet, barring a collapse, the Blue Jays won’t give any indication of their trade intentions until after the All-Star break. Guerrero and Bichette are slated to become free agents following 2025 but this could mean one of two things. Moving either can go a long way toward improving a bad farm system and it would help the struggles of a club that hasn’t won a postseason series since 2016.
If the Blue Jays Hold Gurerro and Bichette
There’s plenty of talent on the Blue Jays roster. Danny Jansen is putting up career numbers, Justin Turner has postseason experience, Gold Glover Kevin Kiermaier and super utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Yusei Kikuchi and Yimi Garcia will be other names who might float around in the rumor mill as both are pending free agents. The Blue Jays are hoping to dig their way out of the bottom of the standings. However, the American League East has seen time and time again that teams who are off to poor starts never see massive improvement down the stretch.
Main Photo: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
