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Blue Jays: Revisiting trades that almost happened but didn’t

By Matt Graves

PHOENIX, UNITED STATES: Arizona Diamondbacks Randy Johnson delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs, 25 August 2002, in Phoenix, AZ. Johnson improved his record to 19-4, with a complete game shutout, striking out 15 batters. AFP PHOTO/ROY DABNER (Photo credit should read ROY DABNER/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, UNITED STATES: Arizona Diamondbacks Randy Johnson delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs, 25 August 2002, in Phoenix, AZ. Johnson improved his record to 19-4, with a complete game shutout, striking out 15 batters. AFP PHOTO/ROY DABNER (Photo credit should read ROY DABNER/AFP via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 28: David Wright #5 of the New York Mets waits on deck during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 28, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 28: David Wright #5 of the New York Mets waits on deck during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 28, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

David Wright for Jose Cruz Jr.

In the summer of 2002, the Blue Jays almost made a trade that would have landed them a future face of the franchise. 19-year old David Wright was developing in the minor leagues for Single-A Capital City. New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips approached then Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi for a trade. Phillips wanted to acquire outfielder Jose Cruz Jr.,.

Interestingly enough, ESPN’s Keith Law, who used to work in the Blue Jays front office. According to Law, Ricciardi was quoted with saying “I’m not trading a major league player for some guy in the Sally League.” Meanwhile, Cruz was decent in Toronto while Wright became a seven-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner for the Mets.

Domonic Brown for Jose Bautista

Fox 29’s Howard Eskin was the one to report this trade rumor. The Philadelphia Phillies were seriously considering trading for slugger Jose Bautista. In return, the Blue Jays would have received rookie Domonic Brown. Brown was coming off the best season of his career, making his lone All-Star appearance that season.

If this deal went through, it would have surpassed the R.A. Dickey/Noah Syndergaard deal as one of the worst moves in franchise history. Thankfully, the trade never went through. While both Brown and Bautista would sign with the other respective clubs down the road. Oh, and Blue Jay fans wouldn’t have witnessed the “Bat Flip.”

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