Toronto Blue Jays: Three players the team could use as trade bait
The Toronto Blue Jays possess one of the deepest and top-ranked farm systems in the league, which could allow the team to trade some prospects/players away for veteran players to help the current roster.
With the Toronto Blue Jays linked to numerous free agents and other team’s trading blocks this off-season, we take a look at three players that could find themselves heading out of the organization to meet other needs on the roster.
Derek Fisher
Acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline in 2019 in exchange for Aaron Sanchez, Cal Stevenson, and Joe Biagini, outfielder Derek Fisher came highly regarded for his speed and the fact that he had years of control under his belt. Since joining the Blue Jays midway through 2019, the Lebanon, Pennsylvania native has slashed .194/.286/.376 with seven home runs and 19 RBI’s in 56 games with his new organization.
Known for his speed and athleticism when with the Astros, Fisher’s debut with the Blue Jays started a bit rocky, he took a fly ball off the face in just his third game with the organization. He would have to leave the game the same day Sanchez and Biagini would help solidify a combined no-hitter for the Astros.
In 2020, Fisher would play in 16 games for the Blue Jays in the COVID shortened season and would slash .226/.359/.452 with one home run, seven RBI’s, and no stolen bases. He would also finish the season on the injured list after taking a pitch to his knee during a batting practice session on September 15th.
While Fisher is out of minor league options and would need to make the roster out of spring training or be exposed to waivers (if sent down to AAA), the outfielder’s stats might not scream ‘trade bait’ at first glance. The one major plus Fisher has going for him is that he hasn’t hit his arbitration years and a change of scenery could help a team looking for an outfielder with years of control and some MLB experience under their belt.
If the Blue Jays do acquire a veteran outfielder this off-season via free agency, there may not be room for Fisher on the roster, which could see him being shipped out of town before trying to pass him through the waiver wire at the start of the season instead of potentially losing him for nothing.
Reese McGuire
Drafted in the 1st round of the 2013 amateur draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Reese Mcguire would find himself in the Toronto Blue Jays organization when he was traded alongside Francisco Liriano and Harold Ramirez to Toronto in exchange for Drew Hutchinson at the 2016 trade deadline.
Although his 2017 season was hampered by injuries, McGuire would make his Blue Jays debut as a September call up in 2018 and has been floating between the minor leagues/alternative training site and the MLB roster over the past two seasons. During those three years, McGuire has 471 plate appearances along with a .243/.281/.444 slash line, eight home runs, 16 RBI’s and nine walks.
In 2020, McGuire had a bit of a rough year on and off the field. Considered to be a lock on the roster to create a catching tandem with Danny Jansen, McGuire would play in 19 games and would slash an abysmal .073/.073/.146 with one home and one RBI. He would also see his fielding percentage drop to .978% with three errors committed, but would throw 50% of runners out trying to steal (4 for 8). McGuire would end up being sent down to the alternate training site at the start of September and wouldn’t find himself in another game all season.
Off the field, McGuire would find himself arrested during spring training in Dunedin, Florida for exposing himself in a parking lot, a charge in which he would eventually plead guilty to disorderly conduct and pay a $450 fine with no jail time.
What makes Reese McGuire a potential trade bait candidate comes down to a few points:
- He won’t reach free agency until 2026
- Quite a few teams across the league are looking for controllable and experienced catchers
- The Toronto Blue Jays possess a few internal options in Alejandro Kirk, Gabriel Moreno, and Riley Adams who could overtake McGuire on the depth charts (Kirk already appears to on the Blue Jays website).
The Blue Jays have also been tied to free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto this winter, and while I don’t think the organization will sign the veteran; if he were to find his way North of the border this off-season, McGuire’s days in T.O. would most certainly be numbered.
Orelvis Martinez
Signed by the Blue Jays during the 2018 international prospect signing window, infielder Orelvis Martinez currently sits as the 7th ranked prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
In 2019, Martinez played 40 games for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Blue Jays, slashing .275/.352/.549 with five triples, seven home runs, and 32 RBI’s against pitchers roughly 2-3 years older than himself. In 2020, Martinez did not get a chance to really play as the MiLB was shut down and he was not added to the Blue Jays alternative training site/60 man player pool until mid-September.
Known for his ability to hit the ball and his speed on the base paths, Martinez spent most of his time at shortstop, but also split some games at third base throughout the season. He is still going to progress and grow into his athletic frame, but he currently isn’t estimated to potentially reach the MLB until 2023.
The reason Martinez finds himself on this list is not because of his lack of skill or his potential, but because of the Blue Jays current roster and prospect situation. As of right now, the Blue Jays have Bo Bichette entrenched at shortstop and there are two other 3B/SS prospects ahead of Martinez on the Blue Jays prospect rankings in Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans, both of whom are projected to reach the majors before the Dominican native. To make matters more complicated is the Blue Jays competitiveness in free agency this off-season, in that they may acquire a veteran infielder(s) which could also push Martinez and possibly even Groshans to the trade block.
Compared to the other two players in this article, Martinez would most likely bring back the biggest package/player from other teams, but also cause the biggest riff for Blue Jays fans who follow the organization’s farm system. With his age and raw potential, Martinez could blossom into a superstar and the Blue Jays could be kicking themselves down the line for trading him away.
On the flip side, the Blue Jays could use Martinez (plus others) to trade for veteran players who could help push the Blue Jays into a competitive postseason bound team for the foreseeable future. High risk-high reward.