Blue Jays: The argument for and against trading the top prospects

The argument against trading the future stars

Listen, I understand that “prospects are just prospects until they aren’t”, and that the Blue Jays are very much in a “win-now” phase of things. I’m all for being aggressive, and I was excited when they acquired Berrios even if it came at a big cost.

However, I see Moreno and Martinez in a different light.

First of all, I really think these two are special, and so far their performance would back up my statement. Moreno in particular has made a name for himself in the baseball world over the last 12 months, and looks like he’s destined for a big league debut at some point in 2022. The 21 year old really impressed in Double-A last season by slashing .373/.441/.651 over 145 plate appearances, and then produced similar results in the Arizona Fall League. He’s now considered among the top 10 on several prospect lists, and really does look like a special player on the cusp of making the jump to the highest level.

As for Martinez, he’s further away in his development but he still made a name for himself in 2021 in limited action. Playing 71 games in A-ball in Dunedin the then-19 year old slashed .279/.369/.572 with 19 home runs, 22 doubles, and 68 RBI over just 283 at-bats. He struggled a bit when he moved up to High-A for 27 games and 112 at-bats, hitting just .214, but he still swatted nine more home runs as a teenager. Turning just 20 years old last month, Martinez still has plenty of time to develop and refine his skills before he makes his big league debut.

As much as I believe these two have the potential to be special players, I also like what they could do for the franchise if they end up reaching that level. We don’t know how the next CBA will work, especially when it comes to service time for young players, but stay with me on this one for a moment. Using Moreno as an example, let’s say that he debuted in the big leagues sometime in June or July of 2022. Under the old CBA rules that would mean the Blue Jays could keep Moreno under contract for six more seasons, meaning he wouldn’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season. For a guy like Martinez who probably won’t reach the big leagues until 2023 or even 2024, he could be a Blue Jay until the end of the decade.

In my mind that could be an important part of the Blue Jays building some sustainable success in Toronto. Ideally they’ll be able to reach long-term extensions with core pieces like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and others, but if not then those two are only under contract through the 2025 season. George Springer will still be a Blue Jay through 2026, Berrios through 2028, and new free agent acquisition Kevin Gausman through 2026 as well, so the Jays are invested in winning for a while. Ideally guys like Moreno and Martinez will provide the “next wave” of talent that we’ve heard so much about in the past, and that’s exactly what I think they’ll do at some point down the line.

Lastly, I also believe the Blue Jays have enough other solid trade pieces that they can make an impact move if they want to. We’ve already talked about that catching depth, and there are plenty of talented infielders throughout the organization as well. There are also a few big league pieces that could end up in a trade if the right deal were to come together.

So having said all of that, will the Blue Jays trade one or both of Moreno or Martinez once there is a new CBA in place? Your guess is as good as mine, but if I were going to put money on it then I’d bank on the Blue Jays keeping these two in the organization. I’m not sure I’d call them “untouchable”, but I believe that it would take a pretty special trade before Atkins and company would make that kind of move.