It has only been a week since the 2026 MLB trade deadline, but some of the former Blue Jays who were dealt already look like they’ve moved on quickly.
Toronto’s deadline shuffle sent several familiar names elsewhere, and the early returns have been a mixed bag. A few are flashing right away, others are still settling in, and at least one looks ready to make a real difference for a contender.
Arjun Nimmala is the most eye-opening of the group so far. The Blue Jays paid a steep price to land José Soriano, parting with their No. 2 prospect at the time according to MLB Pipeline.
Nimmala had been rolling through a solid minor league season and had already earned a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire before the deal. Now with the Angels’ Double-A club in Rocket City, the 20-year-old shortstop has come out swinging.
In two games, he has two doubles, three RBIs, three walks and a stolen base, good for a .400 average and a 1.425 OPS. The early production is a strong first impression, even if Toronto may feel the sting later.
The presence of JoJo Parker in the system should ease that blow some.
Daulton Varsho’s start with the Astros has been slower at the plate, even if the defense remains what it has always been. Houston picked up one of Toronto’s most reliable fielders, and he has kept doing the glove work that made him such a valuable piece for the Blue Jays.
Offensively, though, the first stretch was rough: he went 2-for-18 in his first five games with his new team. That changed on Sunday, when he finally broke through with his first home run in an Astros uniform.
It was a needed moment for a player whose 2026 season has been frustrating on offense.
Jeff Hoffman’s season had already taken a sharp turn before the deadline. After a rocky start with Toronto, he found his rhythm in June and July, allowing just one earned run in June and two in July.
That rebound gave him value, and the Blue Jays sent him to the Twins for prospects and international pool money. In Minnesota, the veteran reliever has made three appearances, logging one hold and taking the loss Saturday against the Brewers after giving up the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.
He owns a 3.00 ERA with five strikeouts in three innings, and he’s clearly going to matter in a Twins bullpen that is chasing a wild card spot.
Kevin Gausman may be the one Toronto fans miss most. After more than four years with the club, the right-hander left a deep mark in Toronto, and even in the aftermath of the trade to the Cubs, he showed plenty of respect for his former team by choosing not to face them in a makeup game Thursday.
He made his Chicago debut Friday against the Royals and looked like the ace he’s been for years: seven innings, two runs, four hits, one walk and four strikeouts for his first win with the Cubs. Among the players Toronto moved, Gausman looks like the one most likely to swing a stretch run, which is exactly why his departure could sting if the Blue Jays stay in the playoff mix.
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Ricky Tiedemanns long road back finally reached game action this week, and the Blue Jays have every reason to pay close attention. The left-hander, one of the organizations most promising pitching prospects, returned after Tommy John surgery and made his season debut with Triple-A Buffalo, a meaningful checkpoint for a pitcher whose development had been stalled by injury.
The first look was encouraging, with Tiedemann showing the kind of velocity that made him such an intriguing arm in the first place. What comes next is the bigger Blue Jays conversation: whether his future path still points to starting or whether the club ultimately decides a bullpen role makes more sense as it tries to map out the final stretch of the season. One possibility is already hanging out there if the early outings continue to go well. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Face A George Springer Decision That Could Define Next Year
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Springers future has become one of the more awkward questions attached to the reset. His age, injury history and drop in production this season all cloud the decision, and Toronto has to weigh whether he still makes sense for a team trying to build toward 2027. If he continues playing, the profile is changing too, with his role expected to be limited to designated hitter duties going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Make Another Pitching Move As Bullpen Strain Grows
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To make the roster math work, the Blue Jays also made a series of corresponding changes around the edges of the roster. Outfielder Rudy Martin Jr. was outrighted to Triple-A after being designated for assignment last week, and Toronto continues to shuffle through its depth as it balances immediate pitching needs with the rest of the roster picture. [Read more 🡒]