The Toronto Blue Jays are 3-6 since returning from the All-Star break, and as the losses continue to outweigh the wins, the likelihood of the Blue Jays becoming sellers ahead of the August 3rd trade deadline has been solidified after much debate over their stance.
With a roster full of players who could appeal to playoff contenders, here are five of the Blue Jays’ most valuable trade chips, ranked by their likelihood of being moved.
Blue Jays’ Most Valuable Trade Chips
No. 1: Jeff Hoffman
When he is bad, it is easy to be critical of Jeff Hoffman, especially given that he gave up the game-tying home run to Miguel Rojas in Game 7 of the World Series last year and his early-season performance, which was indicative of him getting the boot as the Blue Jays’ closer. But when he is good, it is hard not to see his value.
Since the start of June, he has given up only three earned runs. The 33-year-old veteran has established his slider as the nastiest pitch in his arsenal, with a 48.4% whiff rate entering elite territory. Pair that with a 33.5% strikeout rate, and he has shown that he has legitimate putaway power that would be appealing to any contender looking to add to the back end of its bullpen.
It’s hard to endure the aftermath of what Hoffman experienced last November, which may or may not have played into his early-season struggles. But given what the Blue Jays could get for Hoffman, taking into account his performance over the last couple of months should entice the Blue Jays’ front office. And with the heartache he provides in Blue Jays history, a change of scenery could be good for both sides.
No. 2: Shane Bieber
The stock of veteran right-hander Shane Bieber has astronomically risen over the past week, given his struggles after returning from injury. In his last two starts, Bieber has allowed only one earned run with nine strikeouts while taking both starts into the sixth inning or later.
Bieber is another interesting case because, much like Hoffman, when he’s bad, it shows—but when he’s good, it stands out even more. Bieber thrives on precision. He doesn’t have a blazing fastball in the upper 90s he can rely on, but his last two starts have shown improved command. With only two walks while producing a high yield in ground balls in his last two starts, he has shown that the location of his pitches has improved.
There’s no denying Bieber’s past also plays a role in this. As a former Cy Young Award winner, combined with his performance in last year’s postseason, when he posted a 2-1 record with a 3.86 ERA after being acquired just months before. He would be an attractive option for any playoff contender.
No. 3: Kevin Gausman
Kevin Gausman left the mound on Tuesday with most, if not all, of those watching thinking it would be his last start at the Rogers Centre, with his future as a Blue Jay up in the air.
"I'm a Blue Jay right now and the focus is this team… But, yeah, that is kind of crazy to think about."
Kevin Gausman on his future in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/ldDhCNuikr
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 22, 2026
His last two months haven’t been pretty. He owns a 6.56 ERA since the start of June and has struggled with walks in some of his most recent starts.
To be great, you have to be consistently good, and Gausman has been that for the Blue Jays. His 3.60 ERA during his time with the Blue Jays, a 52-50 record, 910 career strikeouts, an All-Star selection in 2023, and a Cy Young finalist finish in the same year are there to prove it. But what matters is the present. And the question for Gausman and the Blue Jays’ front office will be whether a playoff contender sees enough value in him right now.
Pitching depth has proven to be one of the biggest assets on any playoff roster, and though Gausman’s numbers haven’t been great lately, it’s easy to see the value he could bring as a third or fourth starter, or even as someone who could mix into the bullpen come playoff time. That kind of versatility is valuable for any postseason team and could be enough to net the Blue Jays a couple of top prospects.
It’s important to note that Gausman’s contract includes an eight-team no-trade list: the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Athletics. As a result, it’s unlikely he would land with any of those teams.
No. 4: Daulton Varsho
This might be hard to believe, given Daulton Varsho‘s recent struggles at the plate. The 30-year-old veteran has, however, heated up recently, going 5-for-8 over his last two games.
His biggest bargaining chip, though, is his defense. Over the past four seasons, he has posted 17 Outs Above Average (2022), 10 (2023), 15 (2024) and nine (2025), while posting a four OAA this season. Yes, his defensive identity this season hasn’t been what we’ve grown accustomed to in the past. However, those numbers will be appealing to any playoff contender looking to upgrade its outfield.
With Varsho likely to say goodbye to the Blue Jays within the next week, the big question is who will be the everyday center fielder?
Myles Straw could act as a filler for the remainder of the season, but there’s no guarantee he will pick up his $8 million player option after this season. It’s a possibility that Varsho could move to a team that needs an upgrade in center field and has a center-field prospect who could swap places with Varsho, such as the Philadelphia Phillies.
No.5: George Springer
George Springer is one last name you can add to the list of potential players who could be moving on from the Blue Jays. Springer is subject to the 10-and-5 rule, which states that any player with 10 years of service and the last five years with the same team has the power to veto any trade, giving Springer full control over his next potential suitor.
His numbers aren’t much, as he is posting a .229 batting average and an OPS hovering around .700, a mere fraction of what he produced last season, although, like Varsho, he has heated up as of late.
Springer does have a selling point that many can’t match—his postseason experience. Springer has played in 83 postseason games and has 23 career postseason home runs, tied for the third most in MLB history, along with 93 hits, 48 RBI, and 57 runs scored.
Though he may not yield much in return for the Blue Jays on the trade market, October seems to bring out the best in Springer, and his playoff experience would pay dividends for any contender.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
