So now that we are firmly in the sell camp, let’s have a contest to guess which players will be traded away.
The problem the Jays have is that they don’t have that guy who will net them top prospects. They don’t have Tarik Skubal, who will be the one that everyone will be bidding on, and the price will be very high.
I think Kevin Gausman will likely bring the biggest return, but he hasn’t looked great lately. He has a 7.85 ERA in his last six starts. Only one of them was a good start. I don’t know
how other teams will view him.
On the other hand, Shane Bieber has had a couple of great starts in a row. Small sample and all, but he might be a bigger draw for a contending team at the moment. But he’s only had 6 starts, and I’d worry about his injury history.
George Springer? He’s having a poor season, but there have been some good signs of late. He’s hitting .286/.342/.514 in July. He’s been in the playoffs a bunch. He’s clearly well-liked in the clubhouse. On the other side of it, he’s really only a DH now. I think the Jays played him in the outfield to try to suggest to other teams ‘he can do this’ if they needed.
Daulton Varsho? Well, he hasn’t helped his trade value. I don’t think you take on a project at the deadline. But, who knows. Yimi Garcia? I don’t think there is another time to prove he can pitch before the deadline, but maybe?
Someone who isn’t in their final contract year? I don’t see it. Varland won’t be traded unless someone really overbids, and I can’t imagine it. Same with Rogers. Any other reliever? Hoffman? I don’t think it will happen. Maybe one of the lefties?
Nathan Lukes? He’s not a free agent until 2031, so I don’t see that there is a reason for the Jays to deal him. And I don’t see him as a guy a team would overpay to get.
Jesus Sanchez? I don’t think there is enough time to prove he’s healthy and, even if he could, he’d have to prove he can hit the ball.
Anyway, tell us who the Jays will trade before the deadline. We’ll give a point for each one you get right and subtract one for each one you get wrong.
