Top analyst names Blue Jays as trade deadline sellers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. And Bo Bichette among top targets amidst Toronto team’s struggles
The Toronto Blue Jays have not been good in 2024. A playoff team in 2023 with a good core of talented players, especially in the pitching staff, the Blue Jays have failed to live up to expectations. They're below .500, almost a death sentence in the AL. The AL East features two of baseball's best teams, so a playoff run is hard to envision.
USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale reported that buyers are monitoring their situation:
"The Toronto Blue Jays are the team buyers are keeping their eye on at the trade deadline knowing they could move first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., shortstop Bo Bichette, DH Justin Turner, outfielders George Springer and Kevin Kiermaier, closer Jordan Romano and starters Yusei Kikuchi and Chris Bassitt."
There are a lot of talented, whether underperforming or not, players in Toronto. There's a chance they could kickstart a rebuild by selling them off either now or at the deadline.
The Toronto Blue Jays may need to start a rebuild
The Toronto Blue Jays have major free agency decisions to make regarding Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. They were once among the promising crop of youth that Toronto had. Toronto needs to either lock them or let them walk. It's hard to envision both getting the massive contracts they likely want, so perhaps trading one or both is wise for their future.
Furthermore, much of their roster is aging. Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi are good, but they're not exactly part of the distant future. In truth, most of the roster in Toronto is the same.
Their farm system doesn't have much top-end MLB-ready talent, either. The solution would be to sell their top assets, even if it means committing to being bad for this season and maybe next.
They're not competitive in the best division in baseball. Getting back to a competitive state will be very difficult given their roster. So GM Ross Atkins has the unenviable task of deciding what to do with everyone.