What should the Toronto Blue Jays do at the deadline?

Should the Blue Jays sell, buy, or stand pat prior to the deadline?

After a series sweep against the Baltimore Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays stand a game under .500 with a 10-11 record. This puts them five games back of the division leading New York Yankees and just three games back of a playoff spot.

This would only matter if the postseason format was the same as last year’s. For the 2020 season, the playoff format has been expanded to the top two teams in each division as well as two other teams with the best records among their leagues.

The Blue Jays currently sit 4th in the AL East with the third best record in the American League among teams not in a playoff spot. To make things simpler, they’re half a game out of making the playoffs.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

With the expanded format for the postseason, the Jays have a realistic shot at being a playoff team from having the best record among American League teams not among the top two in their division. That being said, the front office needs to determine what they should with the trade deadline approaching in 12 days.

Coming into the season, expectations weren’t too high for Canada’s team in regards to making the playoffs. They were still perceived as a year or two away from being true contenders and were expected to sell pending free agents. With the shortened season and good ball being played by the Jays, those perceptions have changed in the eyes of some.

As the team is built for the future, they could still sell and make the farm system even stronger. Travis Shaw, Joe Panik, Ken Giles, Matt Shoemaker and others are all on the final year of their contracts and could find themselves in another uniform by the end of the month. With how the team is playing though, it may not make sense to move them.

They could possibly explore the trade market for Giles, as the bullpen has been very good since he went down with an injury and the Blue Jays possibly have their future closer in Jordan Romano. Although due to his elbow issues that have stemmed from last year, he may not garner much interest and teams will probably be hesitant to give up much for him.

If the front office wants to get back to the playoffs after missing out on the past three years, they could buy players to upgrade their major league roster. Another quality starting pitcher and a starting caliber outfielder would go a long way in making the team stronger, although they should definitely not mortgage the farm system that they’ve successfully built to seek right now upgrades.

They don’t even have to trade anyone on their roster or seek major league players from other teams. They could just stand pat and have the team as it currently is. As this group has exceeded expectations, they don’t need to ruin the chemistry and momentum they have. As mentioned before, the deadline is still 12 days away. Many things can happen over the next 12 days. A winning streak, a losing slide, injuries, suspensions, delays and who knows what else in this weird season.

As there’s only been one trade during this season to my knowledge, which was between the Orioles and Miami Marlins, it doesn’t look like any teams are in a rush to make moves yet. Ross Atkins should do the same and not rush to do anything.

What I think he should do though is stand pat. Maybe explore the trade market for Giles but only move him for the right value. Despite his injury, when healthy, he is a very valuable member of the bullpen.

Obviously if an offer is made that can’t be refused then pull the trigger but the best thing the front office should do is leave the team as it is and hope the Jays can play a bit better ball to push themselves into a playoff spot. And of course stay there.