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Blue Jays should consider trading Justin Smoak right now
If you have ever enjoyed success dabbling in the stock market, you realize the importance of selling your stocks at the most lucrative opportunity, much like the precarious position the Blue Jays are faced with when considering if they should move or hold on to their first baseman.
Justin Smoak‘s stock will never be any higher than it currently is especially after just being voted into the All-Star game. The Blue Jays are plummeting out of the playoff chase on the heels of a five-game losing streak and losers of their last nine out of eleven contests.
Smoak is on a team friendly contract and will not become a free agent until the conclusion of 2018 (with an option in 2019), which would also be appealing to prospective teams in the hunt for a home run hitter. Before everyone calls for my head on a platter for even suggesting the idea, remember this is the same Justin Smoak who you all voted off the island in spring training for Rowdy Tellez.
I am not suggesting tearing down the entire team and shipping everyone out as I truly believe this team is much better than they are playing of late. However, you could essentially nab a couple top prospects for Smoak and insert Steve Pearce at first base from here on out.
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Next season you can re-access the positional need via the free agent market if Pearce or Tellez don’t tickle your fancy. The likes of Eric Hosmer, Lucas Duda, Yonder Alonso, Logan Morrison, Mitch Moreland and Carlos Santana all hit the market this offseason.
Obviously, I am not suggesting trading Smoak just for the sake of making a deal, but it definitely would be prudent to see what opposing General Managers would be willing to package for his services.
The upstart Minnesota Twins could be one team interested in Smoak as the acquisition could allow them to utilize Joe Mauer in the DH spot with Smoak at firs and Miguel Sano at third base. The Twins also have a few tantalizing prospects in their cupboard in Nick Gordon, Tyler Jay, and Stephen Gonsalves.
Smoak’s team friendly $4.125 million dollar contract would also be right up the Twins alley who have a modest team payroll of $108 million.
The 30-year old is on pace to hit 40 round trippers this season but he is still only a season removed from a .217/.314/.391 slash line in 126 games in 2016. We all remember the Michael Saunders descent after last season’s All-Star appearance.
Next: Blue Jays: JJ Podcast- Sunday, bloody Sunday
Buy low and hold or sell high, what do you think the Blue Jays should do with Justin Smoak moving forward?