The Toronto Blue Jays are heading into the trade deadline in a spot they never expected to occupy, and that changes everything. Instead of shopping for help, they’re now looking to sell, with the first half of the season leaving them well under .500 and out of the race they hoped to make.
That puts some familiar names on the block, including designated hitter George Springer and starting pitcher Shane Bieber. Both are on expiring contracts, which gives Toronto a chance to get something back for two important pieces before they walk at season’s end.
But moving them is another matter entirely.
Bieber’s value took a major hit after his last start against the Washington Nationals, when he didn’t make it out of the first inning. That outing was a full-blown come-apart, and it came at the worst possible time for the Blue Jays.
Springer’s case is different, but no easier. He’s a right-handed designated hitter, and that profile simply isn’t in high demand across the league. He also has an eight-team no-trade clause, which narrows the field even further.
There’s also the age factor. Springer will turn 37 when September arrives, a detail that could scare off some teams. Still, his recent stretch at the plate has helped his stock recover.
Over his last seven games, Springer has hit over .330 and slugged .593. In his last 15 games, he’s slashing .288/.354/.525, with his OPS moving closer to .900. That kind of production would normally help create a strong market, but in this case the bigger issue is logistics.
Bieber had been trending in the right direction before the Washington disaster. In the two games before that, he threw a combined 13 innings and allowed just an unearned run, with his command looking much sharper. Then came the six-walk inning, the worst start of his career, and that’s the image that will stick with teams now.
For Toronto, the timing couldn’t be much worse. Springer’s limited market and Bieber’s collapse make both players tough to move, even as the Blue Jays try to salvage value from a deadline that has already turned against them.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Bullpen Gamble Looks Even Smarter After Twins Latest Move
Minnesotas latest bullpen move only adds another layer to a trade that already looks favorable for Toronto. The Twins went out and got left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets, sending prospects Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick the other way, a clear sign they were still trying to patch up a relief corps that has been a problem all season. Minter has been solid enough on paper, with a 2.35 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 23 appearances, but the move also serves as a reminder of how aggressively the Blue Jays moved earlier to address their own bullpen needs.
For Toronto, the bigger takeaway is that Louis Varland has only kept strengthening the case for that deal. He has been one of the most effective relievers in the game this season, piling up strikeouts and missing bats at a rate that has made the Blue Jays look increasingly confident in the gamble they made. Minnesotas decision to add another arm doesnt change what Toronto already has in Varland, but it does underline how much the Jays benefited from getting ahead of the market. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Just Got A New Deadline Test For Ross Atkins
The Angels latest move only sharpened the market for teams hunting help before the deadline, and it gives Ross Atkins another layer to weigh as he looks for upgrades with staying power. Los Angeles has already shown a willingness to deal from its roster, and the kind of return it just pulled in suggests the Blue Jays will have to decide how aggressive they want to be if they go after controllable talent.
That matters because the Angels still have several players who fit the profile Toronto tends to chase: pitchers and position players who are producing now and can remain in place for more than a rental stretch. Jos Soriano, Reid Detmers and Zach Neto all fit that mold, which is exactly why the Blue Jays will keep an eye on Anaheim as the deadline approaches and the asking price starts to crystallize. [Read more 🡒]