Blue Jays should look to trade Kendrys Morales

The Toronto Blue Jays are in a position where they need to explore every possible trade opportunity to ensure this team gets younger and more athletic for next season and beyond, one possible move would be to unload designated hitter Kendrys Morales to a contender.

The expiring contracts on the squad belong to Marco Estrada and Francisco Liriano and both have pitched their way off most teams radars. Reliever Joe Smith is also set to become a free agent this offseason and a good bet to be moved but the return will not be plentiful on its own.

Kendrys Morales could just be that power bat teams are looking to add although the Jays pool of interest would more than likely only come from the American League teams as Morales is not equipped to be an everyday first baseman at this juncture in his career.

The 34-year is slashing .255/.307/.455 with 17 round trippers and 52 runs batted in thus far this season. Morales is signed through 2019 earning 11 and 12 million respectively for the next two seasons.

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The switch-hitter has owned lefty pitching this season batting .329 with 5 home runs in 90 plate appearances while conversely hitting .230 versus righties. Morales has had a knack for hitting big home runs all season long hitting 13 of his round trippers when the score was within two runs or less.

Defensively Morales has only hit the field for 10 games this season but has been an adequate defender at first base when called upon by Manager John Gibbons.

It is tough to gauge the interest and or return a Morales trade would yield for the Blue Jays but it is something definitely worth exploring. The upstart Minnesota Twins could be one possible suitor for the services of Morales as they try to capitalize on their window of opportunity in the AL Central.

Next: Blue Jays: The Royals are interested in Marco Estrada

Whether you want to accept it or not, the Jays deficiencies were exploited this season and changes need to be made to make this current contingent younger and more athletic. Dealing Morales for minor league talent would be a step in the right direction in starting the rebuilding process.