Blue Jays: Big names that could get traded this offseason

It’s been a disappointing 2018 season for the Blue Jays and it’s time to start thinking about next year and building a team for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With several contracts getting close to their end, here are some names that could be wearing a different uniform at the start of 2019.

The most valuable trade chip the Blue Jays will have this offseason is, by far, Marcus Stroman. With two more years of control and a good second half performance, the Blue Jays could get a premium return for Stroman this winter. To give you an idea, it could be a similar package to what the Tampa Bay Rays got for Chris Archer, perhaps not as good but certainly around that level. The Rays got two major league ready players in outfielder Austin Meadows and right-hander Tyler Glasnow, 23 and 24 years old respectively, who were once top prospects in the game. If the Blue Jays are offered such a package of prospects, it would be hard to reject such an offer.

The 27-year-old right-hander has a 4-8 record along with an elevated 5.20 ERA in 16 starts. However, since his return on June 23rd, he has a very solid 3.29 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched over 9 starts. Those numbers will only increase his value especially after suffering from some shoulder issues in spring training which always bring up some doubts about pitchers long-term health.

Should the Blue Jays trade Marcus Stroman however? That’s a difficult question to answer as there are arguments for both the ‘yes’ and ‘no’. The first thing that comes to mind is that the Blue Jays need starters for next season. Marco Estrada is set to hit free agency, so if they were to trade Stroman the Blue Jays would be left with two guaranteed starters.

Aaron Sanchez who’s another offseason trade candidate which will be discussed later in the article, and rookie Ryan Borucki who has certainly made a good impression in his first major league season so far and is poised to make the rotation next spring training. Another argument for the ‘no’ is that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is on his way up and the idea of him being in a Blue Jays uniform in May of 2019 is becoming more and more realistic as times goes on.

Therefore, bringing up Vlad Jr. in a completely depleted team isn’t really ideal, you want the team to be at least competitive. The arguments for the ‘yes’ are very straight and simple. Stroman hits free agency in two years after this season, will the Blue Jays have a chance to win in the next two years? Maybe, but it’s not a lot of time, you might as well try to capitalize on a trade return for Stroman and acquire young players who will play along Vlad Jr and Bichette for 5 or more years than hope for the best in just 1 or 2 years and see the potential return of a trade diminish, or just see him go away in free agency for nothing.

MLB Network insider Jon Morosi said on Wednesday on Sportsnet 590 The Fan: “I think there is a 50/50 chance he gets dealt this offseason”. That’s a very reasonable thought considering the position the Blue Jays are on right now. If the Blue Jays get an offer that satisfies them, it really wouldn’t be surprising if we see the 27-year-old get traded. Whatever happens, the Blue Jays will surely listen on Stroman and rumors surrounding the right-hander will be swirling all winter long.

Justin Smoak

There haven’t been rumors of a potential trade involving 2017 All-Star Justin Smoak but he seems like a strong candidate to be moved this winter. He’s been one of the best, if not the best first baseman in the American League for the past two seasons. He’s also set to earn just $8 million in a 2019 club option which will undoubtedly be exercised and considering his production in the last two seasons, it is a very cheap contract that could be appealing for a contending club next season looking for a middle of the order bat.

It’s yet to be seen if the Blue Jays try to contend in 2019, as of now, however, it seems like 2020 and on will be the years where the Guerrero-Bichette era starts and next season will be a season that serves as a bridge between the present and the future. That said, it makes quite a lot of sense to trade a pending free agent with his value at the peak.

The problem, however, is the market for 1B/DH players isn’t very big as these type of players have lost so much value over the last years. There will surely be some interest in the 31-year-old first baseman but the offers might not be very valuable.

Kevin Pillar

The 29-year-old is in his fourth full season with the Blue Jays and has become one of the fan favorites due to his amazing catches in center field. His bat is under average (career 86 OPS+) but his glove can really help out any team. He’s entering his second year of arbitration in which he’ll earn around $5 million so the Blue Jays might want to shop him considering the outfield depth the organization has. Randal Grichuk has played center field at a fine level while ‘Superman’ was on the disabled list in the month of July, and there is top prospect Anthony Alford who could also take over center field. Both are fine options to cover the position.

Kevin Pillar has been a valuable player since his first full season in the big leagues. In 2015 he ended the season with a 4.9 bWAR, followed by 3.5 in 2016, 2.8 in 2017 and 1.7 so far in 2018. Yes, it has gone down quite steadily but they’re still very solid numbers. His bat has underperformed, even though he has some hot stretches that makes us believe he has finally sorted it out at the plate, but his glove makes up for it and a center fielder that can catch pretty much anything in the outfield is appealing to a contender that’s looking to improve outfield defense drastically.

His value, however, will not be a lot higher than now. His speed will start to decrease as years go by, and the way the franchise is heading right now, it makes a lot more sense to give Anthony Alford a chance, than keeping a player who’s just going to earn more and see his value decrease. Handing him to any team isn’t what’s being suggested either, but the Blue Jays should definitely explore the market and listen on him as it makes a lot of sense to trade him.

Yangervis Solarte

The Venezuelan utility player is an interesting option. He had two very good months to start the season, but since mid-June, he has really dropped it. Utility players are always appealing to clubs and his bat has some power,17 home runs this season, two off his career high. His 87 OPS+ is below average, as well as his defense and baserunning, but he wasn’t supposed to be an everyday player for the Blue Jays.

Off the bench, Solarte is a good player to have on a contending team. He also brings some energy and grit to a team. His value isn’t very high right now, but if he ends the season well and brings his offensive numbers higher, he could very well be on the move this offseason.

If the numbers stay put, however, it’s better to wait for the next trade deadline and see where the club is at and where his value is at. Yangervis Solarte has a $5.5 million club option for 2019 which will most likely be exercised and another $8 million club option for 2020. Also, with Brandon Drury now in the Blue Jays, Solarte becomes even more tradeable.

Ken Giles

Ken Giles is another interesting potential trade chip the Blue Jays have on their hands. The 27-year-old closer is having a strange season. His numbers in save situations are perfect, 0.00 ERA along 12 saves in 12 opportunities, but when it’s not a save situation he has a disastrous 9.67 ERA. His SO/9 is at 9.7 and his FIP (fielding independent pitching) is at 3.33, which shows he has pitched better than his 6.29 ERA.

His value could be a lot higher than it is now, so unless he finishes the season putting up ridiculously good numbers, the Blue Jays should wait for next season and trade him to a contender in the 2019 trade deadline depending on where the club is at and where his value stands. Ken Giles, however, is a very good trade chip with two more years of control and could bring the return the Blue Jays would have gotten for Roberto Osuna when his value was intact before his off the field legal problems.