1 Blue Jays trade rumor we hope comes true, 1 we hope doesn’t happen

There have been many trade rumors swirling around what the Toronto Blue Jays may or may not do at the trade deadline. Whether or not the players involved are on expiring contracts or not, Blue Jays fans can expect some action as Toronto prepares for the future and potentially search for some long-term solutions at the trade deadline.

Some of those rumors would seem to really benefite the Blue Jays while others might do more harm then good. We won't know what's fact or fiction until after the 6pm deadline on Monday, Aug. 3, but there is at least one rumor we hope comes true and one rumor that we hope better not happen.

Jeff Hoffman to the Phillies

MLB insider Bob Nightengale recently suggested that the Philadelphia Phillies would love to have Jeff Hoffman back to help their bullpen. That makes total sense since Hoffman had the best seasons of his career in a Phillies uniform. Between 2023 and 2024, the 33-year-old reliever posted an 8-5 record with a sizzling 2.28 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, along with 158 strikeouts in 118.2 innings pitched over 122 relief appearances with Philadelphia.

However, Hoffman hasn’t had similar success with the Blue Jays so far. Despite making it all the way to the World Series last season, his inconsistencies often gave Jays fans fits. Hoffman has compiled a 14-14 record with 38 saves during his tenure so far with Toronto, but also sported a less-than-stellar 4.26 ERA and 11 blown saves at the same time.

Perhaps giving him the opportunity to reunite with the Phillies can help him rediscover his dominance. As for the Blue Jays, they can get a valuable asset or two in return while Toronto fans wouldn’t have to bear watching the tense moments whenever Hoffman steps into game anymore.

Trading Louis Varland anywhere

Another rumor that has been thrown around is a worrisome one involving the Jays shopping closer Louie Varland at the trade deadline. That was spurred on by former GM and writer for the Athletic Jim Bowden.

That certainly would be a horrible idea for many reasons. First of all, the Blue Jays haven’t had such a dominant, shutdown, lights-out reliever since practically the Tom Henke and the late Duane Ward days over three decades ago. Just taking a look at the numbers speaks for itself, a sparkling 0.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, with 73 strikeouts in 56 total innings while going a perfect 24-for-24 in save opportunities. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

So to move on from Varland already after what he has done this year makes no sense if the Blue Jays plan to retool this offseason and get back into contention.

Secondly, his contract isn’t expiring at the end of this season. It's not even expiring at the end of next season. The Jays still have several years of control with Varlan as he's not set to hit the free agent market until 2031. So there should be no rush to move him, unless the return would knock the Blue Jays socks off.

In addition, with the Blue Jays camaraderie in question this season based on Kevin Gausman’s recent comments, Varland is one of the rare players that still provides character and intensity in the clubhouse. If Toronto wants that bond and chemistry going forward, the 28-year-old reliever is someone that will help keep that glue together and should not be traded at all costs.

Blue Jays need to be open for business but also realistic

The last thing the Blue Jays would want is to have to look for someone like Varland again, possibly as early as next season. Their goal is to be competitive again and they'll only be able to do that with a competent bullpen.

The team that traded him to the Blue Jays, the Minnesota Twins, have found themselves in that exact situation this year and made a pre-deadline move by picking up A.J. Minter from the New York Mets in exchange for two prospects. The less scrambling a year from now, the better.

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