Blue Jays: Looking at the Blue Jays that weren’t traded away

With the non-waiver as well as waiver trade deadline now behind us, let’s now take a look at which Blue Jays weren’t traded away.

Marco Estrada

If it weren’t for the injuries Estrada has been dealing with for the majority of the season, he might have been traded at either of the two trade deadlines this season. The right-hander owns a 5.18 ERA and 1.38 WHIP on the season – not the most appealing numbers to a contender.

Our own Hayden Godfrey wrote in early August about potential landing spots for Estrada, but apparently, no one was a trade suitor for Marco.  Milwaukee was a sensible trading partner to me due to their average rotation, but the Brewers went out and got Gio Gonzalez from the Nationals yesterday instead.

Estrada has been with the Blue Jays since 2015 and was part of the back to back ALCS runs in 2015 and 2016. Estrada pitched in the playoffs in both years and was a big part of the success the team had in both years. This last month with Toronto is likely Marco’s last. Here’s to hoping Estrada can go out on a high note and have a good September with the Blue Jays. 

Kendrys Morales

 It was only April when fans were calling for a Kendrys Morales release. The team was doing well, but Morales most certainly was not. The switch-hitting DH was hitting .178 with 13 strikeouts and only 7 walks by the end of April. Fast forward 5 months and Morales has brought his batting average up all the way to .258 and now leads the team with 21 home runs. It was last month that Morales hit a home run in 7 consecutive games – only 1 game off the MLB record.

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Morales and Estrada both passed through revocable trade waivers near the end of August, meaning they were both eligible to be traded to any team, but obviously no team has series interest. Morales has 1 year left on the 3-year deal he signed prior to the 2017 season.

He almost certainly won’t be brought back after his deal expires as the team transitions into a younger roster, but Morales can be a good role model to the younger players being called up.

Tyler Clippard

 Tyler Clippard has had a good season this season with the Blue Jays. Clippard owns a 3.88 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and has 7 saves on the season. Clippard has worked in the 7^th, 8^th, or the 9^th inning, although he hasn’t fared well in the 9^th inning.

Loup got moved, Seung-Hwan Oh got moved, John Axford got moved. I didn’t think it was even a question that Tyler Clippard was going to be moved at the trade deadline. Yet for some reason, he was not. The Blue Jays signed the righty to a 1 year / $1,500,000 minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training this past Winter. The Blue Jays will need relievers next season, and it is a definite possibility Clippard is brought back after this season.

The Blue Jays dealing away Josh Donaldson was the start of a new era for Toronto baseball. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocking on the door at AAA, it’s time to move on from the veterans and bring in the youngsters. It’s time for a new, winning culture of baseball in Toronto.