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

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SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 10: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park April 10, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Blue Jays have made trades that either make or break the team.

The Toronto Blue Jays have seen many faces come and go throughout the years. When you examine some of the trades, a few deals actually worked out well. The Blue Jays landed All-Stars Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson, and David Price, all at different times. However, trading away promising players like Jeff Kent and Michael Young proved to be head-scratchers.

With that being said, baseball fans like to play the game of “what if” if their team actually pulled off a deal. This applies to the Blue Jays, who almost landed themselves two perennial infielders and a few CY Young Award winners. While we won’t see any action or trades happening soon, here’s an ode to the trades that almost happened, but never did.

Tim Lincecum for Alex Rios

In 2007, outfielder Alex Rios seemed poised to become a star in Toronto. But, the San Francisco Giants were also interested in the two-time All-Star. Things heated up between both clubs as rumours swirled that the Blue Jays were trading Rios for pitcher Tim Lincecum.

Of course, the deal never went through. Lincecum would go on to become a two-time CY Young Award winner, becoming a crucial piece to the Giants championship runs in the early 2010s. As for Rios, he didn’t develop into the star he was back in 2007. Eventually, the Blue Jays would let him walk for nothing to the Chicago White Sox. Rios would have the last laugh, playing a pivotal role in the Kansas City Royals 2015 championship run.

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.”

Randy Johnson

Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick had two deals in place, one with the Oakland Athletics for Rickey Henderson. The other deal, the Seattle Mariners and the Blue Jays had a deal in place to send Randy Johnson to Toronto. Gillick wanted the left-handed pitcher badly, but he couldn’t find Mariners general manager Woody Woodward. Interestingly enough, Woodward was out golfing.

Despite losing out on Randy Johnson, the Blue Jays landed Henderson and went on to repeat as World Series champions. But still, the idea of acquiring the “Big Unit” and having him on the roster until 1998 would have been better.

Ryan Howard for Ted Lilly

The Blue Jays could have had David Wright. Did you know that they could have had Ryan Howard too? In 2005, the Philadelphia Phillies had future Hall of Famer Jim Thome at first base. The Phillies reportedly offered their prospect to the Blue Jays for serviceable pitcher Ted Lilly.

However, Ricciardi and his stubborn ways refused to make the deal. Lilly was under contract for another year and Riccardi believed the lefty would be a cornerstone for a young team. Eventually, Ryan would get called up, winning the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year Award and the 2008 World Series. As for Lilly, he left for the Chicago Cubs after the 2007 season.

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