The Blue Jays are still hunting for help up the middle, and if their preferred free-agent targets slip away again, the path could turn toward a trade.
Toronto has already been linked to Brandon Lowe and Jazz Chisholm, but the club’s recent history suggests it’s ready with other options. Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reported that the Blue Jays also pursued Washington Nationals infielder CJ Abrams and Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto at the 2026 trade deadline, and he added San Francisco Giants infielder Willy Adames to the mix as another name to watch.
“The Jays could return to discussions they had at the 2026 trade deadline for Washington Nationals infielder CJ Abrams or Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (though the Angels don’t currently have a general manager),” Bannon said.
Abrams would bring a strong offensive resume and a bit of defensive flexibility. He has two years of team control left, and he was excellent in 152 games for Washington last season, batting .261 with an .834 OPS, 93 runs scored, 30 doubles, 33 home runs and 106 RBI. The 25-year-old earned his second All-Star selection, and both his home run and RBI totals were career highs over his five-year MLB career.
Toronto’s interest in Abrams also fits with the way the roster could be shaped around Andrés Giménez at shortstop. Abrams could slide to either second base or shortstop, especially after Washington gave him some reps at second late in the season.
A deal would not come cheap, though. A package built around Johnny King and Nolan Perry would likely be the kind of ask Washington would make from a pitching-needy position.
Neto is a different kind of target. He has three years of control remaining and has spent almost all of his time at shortstop.
In 157 games last season, the 25-year-old hit .239 with a .766 OPS, 102 runs scored, 31 doubles, 27 home runs and 77 RBI. He may not stay at shortstop for the full stretch of that contract, but the consistency is there.
And as Bannon noted, the Angels don’t currently have a general manager, which makes any immediate move harder to project.
Adames stands out as the most intriguing name of the group. His contract is the big hurdle, with more than $150 million still owed, but Toronto’s interest makes sense if the club wants to swing for a bigger addition.
The Giants would probably welcome a team willing to take that money on, especially after Adames’ season in San Francisco didn’t match expectations. The Blue Jays had looked at him in late July, and in hindsight, that may have been the safer window to act after it was revealed he dealt with back issues all season before a sprained left elbow ended his year in late August.
Even with the questions around his production, Adames is still just 31 and under contract through 2032. He also brings a reputation as a positive clubhouse presence, which could matter after a season in which Toronto’s room may not have had the right chemistry. The Blue Jays might have to absorb some money at the end of the deal, but ownership appears willing to take a shot if the upside is there.
For now, the bigger takeaway is that Toronto is working multiple lanes at once. The club is not locked into one answer, and that gives it a real chance to come away with something - even if the pending lockout changes the timing of when that news arrives.
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Blue Jays Could Be Eyeing A Bigger Roster Shakeup Than Expected
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That means a few familiar names are suddenly part of the conversation, including pitchers Gage Stanifer, Johnny King and Nolan Perry, along with position players Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes and Andrs Gimnez. Their recent performances have kept them on the radar, but the Blue Jays are also weighing how any pursuit of free agents might affect those decisions, leaving the picture fluid as the club tries to balance present needs with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]