Blue Jays clearly positioning themselves for a trade this winter

It sounds like the Blue Jays continue to be open-minded about how they improve the roster, and they’re likely positioning themselves for a trade or two.

The rumours continue to circulate around the Blue Jays, and it sounds like they’re not leaving many stones unturned. According to MLBtraderumors.com, the latest players that they’ve at least checked on include J.T. Realmuto, Justin Turner, Michael Brantley, and more.

It makes sense that they would at least kick the tires on quality veterans, and it’s pretty clear that Ross Atkins and company won’t be pigeonholed into looking just at answers to fill the likely vacancy at third base. They’re looking to improve the team as a whole, even if that means doing it in an unconventional way. That’s fair enough, but it also tells us something else.

The Blue Jays could be extremely well positioned to make a big trade.

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For example, let’s say they make a big offer and entice Realmuto to come to Toronto. That means the Blue Jays could have as many as five different catchers available on the trading block, as Danny Jansen, Reese McGuire, Alejandro Kirk, Gabriel Moreno, and Riley Adams are all currently part of the 40-man roster. They obviously wouldn’t trade them all, but it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to hang on to them when so many other teams are in need of quality catching. If you’re signing Realmuto, your catching prospect situation is no longer all that relevant, and for the Blue Jays it would mean they’d suddenly have at least a couple more valuable trade chips.

I’ve written about it before, but if the Blue Jays are serious about Brantley or someone like George Springer, that likely means one of their current outfielders would be traded. I’m sure the front office would likely prefer to move Randal Grichuk rather than Teoscar Hernandez or Lourdes Gurriel Jr., but it all depends on what you’re getting back as well.

Whatever direction that the front office decides to go, it will likely lead to a bit of a domino effect, which could take some time to line up. Timing can be a delicate thing in free agency, but fortunately the Blue Jays appear to be one of the more aggressive teams so far, and sooner than later would be a wise strategy if they’re looking to make related decisions. Maybe that means they’re prepared to sign a veteran outfielder, and use someone like Gurriel Jr. as the centre piece in a significant trade, but I doubt they’d part with an asset like that without having a replacement lined up. In the same way, right now it doesn’t make a lot of sense to sign someone like Brantley, unless they plan on opening up a spot for him.

For what it’s worth, it’s an enviable spot for the Blue Jays front office to be, but it’s also a high-pressure time for the franchise. That said, if you have the opportunity to sign someone like Realmuto and then get real value for Jansen to acquire an impact starting pitcher, it’s at least something to consider. It looks like the Blue Jays are doing just that, and keeping their options wide open.