With Gunnar Henderson’s future in Baltimore looking less secure by the day, the Blue Jays should be ready to pounce if the Orioles ever put the shortstop on the market.
That’s not a small ask, either. Henderson is the kind of player who changes the conversation for a lineup: power, speed, and quality defense at shortstop, all wrapped up in one of the most coveted packages in the sport. Even after a pair of seasons that didn’t fully match his talent, he still stands out as one of the most dangerous infielders around.
The catch is that Toronto’s interest would almost certainly run into the same wall as everyone else’s - the Orioles. Trading a player like Henderson to an AL East opponent would be a tough sell, and Baltimore would have every reason to drive the price up.
There’s a reason the Orioles might even entertain the idea. Henderson is under team control through the 2028 season, but once he reaches free agency, he could command hundreds of millions of dollars. If Baltimore decides it can’t keep him long term, that opens the door.
Even in 2026, when he hit 24 home runs and posted a .715 OPS with a 102 OPS+, Henderson was still a valuable player, finishing at 3.6 fWAR. That would have led Blue Jays position players. The stolen bases were down to 10, but the overall value was still there.
And that wasn’t some isolated flash of promise. Henderson showed what his peak can look like in 2024, when he finished fourth in MVP voting after launching 37 home runs, stealing 21 bases, and piling up 7.9 fWAR. He was still nearly a five-win player in 2025, even with a wRC+ that remained 20% above league average.
For Toronto, the fit is obvious. Henderson would be a huge upgrade over Andrés Giménez and would give the Blue Jays a left-handed bat to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for at least the next two seasons.
The price, though, would be steep. Any trade talk would likely begin with JoJo Parker, and that’s where things get uncomfortable for Toronto.
Giving up an exciting young prospect is never painless, but Parker still may not reach the level Henderson has already touched. Selling high on a promising asset for a proven star coming off a down year could be the kind of move that pays off.
If the Blue Jays really believe they’re a few moves away from contending in 2027, Henderson is exactly the sort of swing worth taking. With the American League described as a joke in 2026, Toronto has a chance to make a bold move and build around Guerrero. Henderson could be his co-star.
In Other News...
Former Blue Jays Outfielder Lands At Center Of Serious Fraud Allegations
A former Blue Jays outfielder has found himself at the center of a disturbing off-field case in Ontario, where police say a youth baseball program was used as the backdrop for a fraud scheme. Rich Butler and his wife Michelle have been charged in connection with money taken from families involved in the Ontario Devils Rays program, adding an uncomfortable twist to a name once familiar to Toronto fans.
The Durham Regional Police Service says the alleged losses came between April and October 2025, and investigators say the couple told families the program was declaring bankruptcy. Police say no bankruptcy filing was ever found, which leaves a troubling question hanging over what happened to the roughly $60,000 taken from the group and how the case will unfold from here. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Face A Tough Kevin Gausman Reunion Decision
Kevin Gausmans name is back in the conversation around Toronto, and it comes with the kind of messy familiarity teams usually try to avoid in the winter. After being dealt to the Cubs at the deadline, the veteran right-hander is suddenly available again, and the Blue Jays have reason to at least weigh whether a reunion makes sense on a short-term deal. Theres no question about his track record in Toronto, which is why the idea has any traction at all.
The hesitation is obvious, too. Gausmans 2026 season was the roughest he has had since joining the club, and Toronto already has a rotation picture that includes established arms as well as internal candidates fighting for jobs. That makes the decision less about nostalgia and more about fit, cost and whether the Jays think they can still get the version of Gausman that once looked like a frontline answer rather than a riskier bet on name value. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Trade Idea Would Solve One Problem But Not Another
The Blue Jays are again being linked to an offseason search for an everyday outfielder, and the fit is easy to see. Toronto wants more consistency in the lineup and a player who can help on both sides of the ball, which is why Cleveland outfield defense and on-base skills have come up as a possible match for what the roster needs.
There is even a familiar trade path between the two clubs, which only adds to the speculation. Still, the bigger question is whether a deal like this would address the Blue Jays' shortage of reliable production without creating a different kind of roster headache, since any realistic pursuit comes with layers beyond just plugging one hole in the outfield. [Read more 🡒]