With the Blue Jays firmly in sell mode, the real question now is which names actually move before the deadline. The tricky part is that Toronto doesn’t seem to have that one obvious headliner - no Tarik Skubal type who would send rival clubs into a bidding war and bring back a haul of top prospects.
Kevin Gausman looks like the likeliest candidate to fetch the biggest return, but the timing isn’t ideal. He’s been shaky lately, posting a 7.85 ERA over his last six starts, and only one of those outings really qualified as a good one. That kind of stretch makes it harder to know how other teams will value him.
Shane Bieber, meanwhile, has started to heat up at just the right time. He’s put together a pair of strong starts in a row, and while that’s a very small sample, it could make him more appealing to a contender right now. The catch is obvious: he’s only made six starts, and his injury history has to be part of the conversation.
George Springer is another name worth watching. His season has been rough overall, but there have been encouraging signs lately.
In July, he’s hitting .286/.342/.514. He’s also got plenty of playoff experience and is well-liked in the clubhouse.
The downside is that he’s basically a DH at this point, which is why the Jays have even used him in the outfield - likely to show other teams that he can still handle it if needed.
Daulton Varsho hasn’t done much to boost his market value, and deadline deals usually aren’t built around projects. Yimi Garcia is in a similar gray area, though there’s at least a chance he gets one more chance to show he can pitch before the deadline.
As for players not in their final contract year, the outlook is even murkier. Varland doesn’t seem likely to go unless someone wildly overpays, and that feels unlikely.
The same goes for Rogers. Hoffman doesn’t look like a realistic trade chip either, and maybe one of the lefties could be in play, but that’s about as far as it goes.
Nathan Lukes doesn’t make much sense as a trade candidate at all. He isn’t a free agent until 2031, so there’s no obvious reason for Toronto to move him, and he doesn’t seem like the kind of player another team would massively overpay for.
Jesus Sanchez also looks like a long shot. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time for him to prove he’s healthy, and even if he does, he still has to show he can actually hit the ball.
In Other News...
Red Sox Fans Turned Fenway Into Absolute Chaos Against Toronto
Fenway Park turned into a scene Tuesday night as Red Sox fans joined the tarps off craze during a game against the Blue Jays, stripping off their shirts and waving them in the stands. The celebration, which has made its way from college sports into MLB, has become one of those crowd rituals that can flip a ballpark atmosphere in a hurry, and Bostons version spilled well beyond a single pocket of seats.
What made it stand out for Toronto was how broadly it spread across the park, with the movement showing up from one side of Fenway to the other. The trend has already found a home in St. Louis, where Cardinals fans helped turn it into a recognizable baseball spectacle, and seeing it take over another road environment only added to the sense that this is becoming part of the sports live-game theater. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Lose Another Key Bat In Brutal Barger Update
Addison Bargers season is over before it ever really got going, another hit to a Blue Jays lineup that has already had to absorb more than its share of injury news. Manager John Schneider said the outfielder will undergo right elbow surgery, ending Bargers 2026 campaign and putting his availability for the start of next season in doubt.
Barger has been managing elbow problems for several years, and the procedure will be handled by Dr. Keith Meister. The only real question left is how much recovery time follows, with the rehab path likely to spill into next year and leave Toronto waiting longer for a bat it had hoped would carry over the momentum from his breakout power surge in 2025. [Read more 🡒]
Padres May Finally Be Closing In On The Rotation Help They Need
With the trade deadline approaching, the Padres are still hunting for rotation help after injuries have thinned their starting staff. One name that has surfaced in that search is Kevin Gausman, the veteran right-hander who has been part of Torontos plans but now sits in a position that could make him movable if the Blue Jays decide to cash in before August 3.
Gausmans status as a free agent after the season gives Toronto a real decision to make, especially if the club wants to turn an impending departure into assets. The market around him is expected to be active, with several contenders in the mix, and for the Blue Jays it could become one of the more consequential calls of the deadline. [Read more 🡒]