Blue Jays: Ranking The Top 10 Potential Trade Targets

The winter meetings are here and that means that there are going to be some trades going down. Here are my top 10 trade targets for the Toronto Blue Jays heading into the winter meetings

Though they’ll be virtual this year, the MLB Winter Meetings are set to start on Monday.  This is the time of year when the offseason usually gets going, as every GM and agent is in the same place at the same time, making it easier to talk to one another and get deals done.  We’ll see how the virtual aspect affects the meetings, but I would still expect there to be plenty of moves next week and with their prospect capital and ability to spend, the Jays are definitely a team that could make a few of them.

We’ve heard a lot about the potential free agents that the Jays have been linked to such as George Springer, DJ LeMahieu, or JT Realmuto but we’ve heard far less about potential trade targets.  There are some really good names on the trade market, especially on the pitching side and not just depth pieces, impact pieces as well.  With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the top ten trade targets for the Jays heading into next week.

#9-CF Drew Waters

This trade is a bit out there but I think it could work for both sides.  The Jays need a true centerfielder.  Randal Grichuk was serviceable there last year but long term, I don’t think he’s the answer.  True center fielders who can do it with both the glove and bat are super hard to come by and usually have to be developed within the organization.  The Blue Jays don’t have an outfielder within their top 15 prospects as their highest outfield prospect is Canadian Dasan Brown, but he’s still 3 or 4 years away from the big leagues and far from a sure thing.

Yes, George Springer is on the free agent market but Waters is ten years younger, will make around 25 million dollars less, and has the potential to be a much better defender than Springer with his 60 graded run, field, and arm tool according to MLB Pipeline. To me, he’s a better fit for this team.  The Jays will be hard-pressed to find a major league caliber center fielder to trade for.  I think it would be easier to find a top prospect who’s blocked at the major league level and that is exactly the case for Waters.  Waters has hit all throughout the minors, posting a slash line of .298, .354, and .461.  Atlanta is loaded in the outfield with guys like Ronald Acuna Jr. Cristian Pache and Ender Inciarte so there isn’t much space out there for a guy like Waters.

Even though he’s blocked, Atlanta won’t give him away for nothing, as he’s a top 30 prospect in all of baseball.  That’s why I think a prospect trade could work here.  Atlanta hasn’t found a solution at third since Josh Donaldson left last free agency.  Austin Riley has hit well at the big league level but has played horrid defence at third, and could be looking at a move to first base.  Because of this,  Atlanta could be in the market for a long term third baseman and the Jays may have that in Jordan Groshans, who like Waters, does not have a clear fit at the big league level as the Jays have a pretty full infield with guys like Vlad Jr, Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio.

They also have a plethora of infield prospects, headlined by Austin Martin, so Groshans could be expendable because of this and could help fill a need at the big league level.  This could be a rare prospect trade but I think it could work as both teams are filling needs long term.

Potential Trade

TOR receives OF Drew Waters; ATL receives Jordan Groshans, RHP Adam Kloffenstein

#8-SP Jameson Taillon

We’re heading back to the Pirates and taking a look at another arm in Jameson Taillon.  Taillon, who’s parents are Canadian, was drafted second overall in the 2010 draft, in between Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.  Obviously, Taillon hasn’t become the kind of player these two have, but he’s still been pretty effective.  Over four seasons in the bigs, Taillon has gone 29-24 with a 3.67 ERA, a 1.247 WHIP, and a 112 ERA plus.  Taillon is a power arm with a fastball in the mid ’90s and a hard slider in the upper 80’s, so he’ll bring some velo to a rotation that, outside of Nate Pearson, didn’t have a lot of it.  Taillon will also help the Jays accomplish their goal of throwing more strikes, as he was in the 81st percentile in walks allowed in 2018, so he’s around the zone a lot, which again was something the Jays rotation struggled with last season.  Taillon has missed most of the last two seasons though, as he underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2019 season, so there definitely is some risk in trading for him.

However, like Musgrove, he has two years of control left and Pittsburgh is trying to sell off big league talent so Taillon may be shipped out of town before next season.  If Taillon can find his old form he could provide more upside than a guy like Musgrove and be an impact arm in the Jays rotation.

TOR receives SP Jameson Taillon; PIT Receives C Reese McGuire, SS Kevin Smith

#7-SP Lance Lynn

Pitching, Pitching, and more Pitching.  The Jays starting rotation was a huge weakness for them last year and it needs to be strengthened – adding Lynn would do that.  Lynn has quietly become one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past two seasons, as after arriving in Texas he has posted a 3.57 ERA, a 10.3 K/9 ratio, and a 140 ERA+.  Lynn is in the final year of his contract and is set to only make 8 million dollars next season.  With Texas not looking like a contender next year, Lynn will be one of the most coveted arms on the market this offseason.

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There are some concerns with trading for Lynn, as he is going to be 35 next year and has pitched pretty poorly in the AL East during his time with the Yankees, so there’s a chance that could continue with the Jays.  However, I think that Lynn will be fine coming back to the AL East as he has evolved as a pitcher.  Lynn’s fastball velocity is up from his 2019 stint with the Yankees from an average of 93 to 94 according to StatCast.  Lynn’s curveball spin has also gone from the 19th percentile to the 65th percentile.  These changes will help Lynn if he returns to the AL East for a second time.    Overall, Lynn is a quality arm who would make the Jays rotation better next season.  With there being only one year left at 8 milion on his deal it’s a pretty low-risk move.

Potential Trade

TOR receives SP Lance Lynn; TEX receives SP Thomas Hatch, C Riley Adams, SS Otto Lopez

#6-CF Ian Happ

The Chicago Cubs have said there are going to be changes this offseason.  We’ve already seen some of these changes with President Theo Epstein stepping down, and Kyle Schwarber being non tendered.  This is just the start as more moves are coming. I hope the Jays take advantage of this and add some talented players to their roster.  Ian Happ hasn’t been in many trade discussions as he’s only entering his first year of arbitration and has played pretty well over his four years in the bigs slashing .248, 344, and 481.  Happ is no slouch with the bat, but as a former top prospect he hasn’t really hasn’t lived up to that label yet and because of this, I don’t see him as an untouchable.

Happ has tremendous defensive versatility as he has played every outfield position, first, second and third, and has even pitched a little over his career.  Happ mainly played center field for the Cubs last year and would presumably be doing the same in Toronto.  He isn’t a great defender in center, posting a -2 defensive runs saved last season, but at just 25 years old there’s room for him to grow with his glove and bat.  With his age and control, Happ won’t come cheap but I think he would be an upgrade in center over Grichuk and could potentially be a long-term answer at the position.

Potential Trade

TOR receives CF Ian Happ; CHC receive SP Alek Manoah and SS Estiven Machado

#5-SP Carlos Carrasco

Back to the rotation with another arm in Carlos Carrasco.  Cleveland is a cheap team in a normal year, but with the loss of revenue from this past season, they are going to have to take their cost-cutting measure to the next level this offseason.  They’ve already done this by saying that they are going to trade franchise player Francisco Lindor, who is going to be their most expensive player next year, making around 20 million dollars.  Barring any free agent moves, Carrasco is set to be Cleveland’s second-highest-paid player next season as he is going to make 12 million dollars.  If Cleveland is willing to trade a player of Lindor’s caliber, I don’t see why they wouldn’t be willing to trade Carrasco as well.

Carrasco has been an excellent pitcher for Cleveland over the last 12 years, posting an ERA+ over 100 seven times and over 120 five times.  Carrasco may have had the best season of his career last year posting a 2.91 ERA, a 1.206 WHIP, a 10.9K/9 ratio, and a 157 ERA+ over 12 starts.  He is going to be 34 next year and is under contract for three more years, so it’s hard to imagine he’ll continue to be an elite pitcher through the rest of his contract.  However, he is a strike-thrower and his fastball spin has improved over the past 5 seasons according to StatCast so those are two things you bet on, and hope he can continue it.

Potential Trade

TOR receives SP Carlos Carrasco; CLE receives SS Santiago Espinal, SP Adam Kloffenstein, and SP Sem Robberse

#4-3B Kris Bryant

This next trade is for former NL MVP Kris Bryant.  Up until last year, Bryant had been one of the best players in baseball.  From 2015-2019, Bryant slashed, .284, .385, and 516, averaging 28 home runs and 81 RBI’s a season over this time.  Bryant racked up three All-Star appearances, a Rookie Of The Year award, and, as mentioned, an MVP award during those five seasons.  Bryant had a really bad year in 2020 posting career lows in average, OPS and OPS+.  The Cubs are looking to make changes this offseason and coming off a down year, and being an impending free agent, it makes sense for the Cubs to look to move Bryant.

Bryant would be a fit in Toronto right now since third base is a need (depending on what they do with Vlady) so he could come in and solidify that position for next season.  I think last year’s offensive numbers are a fluke for Bryant as lots of other star players struggled, like Christian Yelich and Nolan Arenado, so I would fully expect him to be back to his old self next season.

Bryant could actually see a spike in offensive numbers next year, as the AL East is loaded with hitter-friendly ballparks and we’ve seen countless players come to Toronto and have career years, and that could be the case with Bryant.  Even though I think he’ll find his old self next season, I still wouldn’t give up that much to get him as Chicago is desperate to move him and he’s a rental, so he’ll only be here for one more year.  If they’re willing to give him up for nothing though, I’d be all for trading for Bryant.

Potential Trade

TOR receives Kris Bryant; CHC receives SP Anthony Kay, OF Derek Fisher, and SP Josh Winckowski

#3-SP Kyle Hendricks

Staying in Chicago, the next player we will look at is Cubs ace Kyle Hendricks.  Hendricks has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last seven seasons and was a key piece to the Cubs 2016 World Series Championship.  He came 3rd in Cy Young voting that year and was fantastic in the playoffs and was a huge reason why they were crowned champs.  As mentioned before, the Cubs are making serious changes and trying to shed salary this offseason, and even though Hendricks has been great for them, he may see himself in a new uniform next season and I think it should be a Jays uniform.

Hendricks would be a great fit for the Jays as Ross Atkins stated that they want to make impact moves this offseason and Hendricks would be exactly that as he would be a top of the rotation arm and would make a really nice 1-2 punch along with Hyun Jin Ryu.  Atkins also stated he wants guys who throw strikes and Hendricks does that as the dude doesn’t walk anyone finishing in the 91st, 96th, and 99th percentile in walks allowed over the last 3 seasons according to StatCast.  Hendricks will earn 14 million dollars over the next three seasons and then has a team option for 16 million dollars for a potential fourth year in his deal.

This is a super nice contract meaning that it’ll cost a pretty penny to get Hendricks but you have to give up something to get something and Hendricks is an elite arm so he won’t come cheap.  Hendricks will be 31 next season, so he’s getting up there in age but he’s a pure finesse pitcher with a fastball that tops out in the upper 80’s.  Hendricks relies on command and movement, not velocity, and guys who pitch like this typically age well so I am not as concerned with the age as I would be for a prototypical flamethrower.

TOR receives Kyle Hendricks; CHC receives SP Alek Manoah, C Gabriel Moreno, and SS Otto Lopez

#2-CP Josh Hader

I’ve focused on the rotation and lineup but the Jays bullpen is going to need some work this offseason as well.  Luckily for them,  one of the best relievers in baseball is on the trade block and could be getting moved this offseason.  That reliever is Josh Hader.  Hader has been outstanding over the last four seasons, posting a 2.54 ERA, an insane 15.3 K/9 ratio, and a 171 ERA+.  Milwaukee is one of many teams looking to shed salary this offseason and we’ve already seen them do so by dealing reliever Corey Kneble to the Dodgers.  With the emergence of Devin Williams, Hader is rumored to also be on the move.

Hader would be a dream fit for the Jays as he’s not only a dominant reliever, he is also a lefty which is a huge need for the Jays as the only lefty they really had in their pen last year was Ryan Borucki, who was good but was nothing special.  Acquiring Hader and sliding Borucki to their number two lefty spot would make a really nice tandem for the Jays in 2021.  Hader is only entering his second year of arbitration and is under team control for three more years, so, like Hendricks, he’s not going to come cheap.

Normally I don’t like giving up a lot for relievers, whether it is money or prospect capital because they’re pretty disposable, but Hader has proven to be one the elite relievers in baseball and I think he would be worth every bit of what they give up to get him.

TOR receives LHP Josh Hader; MIL receives RHP Thomas Hatch, SS Miguel Hiraldo

#1-SS Francisco Lindor

I think we all knew this was coming but the number one player that the Jays should be after this offseason is Francisco Lindor.  Lindor is not only one of the best shortstops in baseball, he’s one of the best players in baseball.  Lindor can do it with both the glove and the bat.  Lindor’s career slash line sits at a really nice .285, 335, and .488, averaging 29 home runs and 86 RBI’s a year.  Lindor has also racked up four All-Star appearances, two Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers as well.

Shortstop isn’t really a need for the Jays as they have Bo Bichette, who’s stated he would like to remain at short but would be open to moving if it made the team better.  It isn’t every day that you get the chance to add a player of Lindor’s caliber to your team so you make it work positionally.   Lindor is in the final year of his contract and the Jays are not a Lindor away from winning a World Series, so for what he is going to cost, I would need to either have him extended before the trade or have a pretty good idea that you can extend him if you’re going to give up the prospect capital to get him.

Cleveland is willing to move him and there isn’t a huge market for him so I wouldn’t give up the insane package of players that Cleveland is probably hoping for.

Potential Trade

TOR receives SS Francisco Lindor; CLE receives 2B Cavan Biggio and C Alejandro Kirk