Blue Jays: Players who could be traded once the lockout is over

It was announced earlier this week via TSN’s Scott Mitchell that the Blue Jays were interested in Cincinnati Reds starter Tyler Mahle, who would have been a great candidate to fill out the starting rotation (along with other pitchers on the Reds like Sonny Gray or Luis Castillo). While no trade materialized, the Jays made a few moves before the lockout came into effect, most notably signing right-hander Kevin Gausman to a five-year deal and extending Jose Berrios to a seven-year contract as well (opt-out after the fifth season).

These moves make the Blue Jays better on the field but there are still some areas that could use some tinkering once the MLB and MLBPA figure out their issues and the baseball season can get underway. Areas that could be improved upon:

• Addition of a fifth starter
• Additional arm or two in the bullpen
• Third baseman
• Veteran infield bench piece

While the free-agent market does boast a few names who could fill out one area on the list above, it wouldn’t be surprising if the club dips into their prospect pool or uses some of their younger players on the current roster to bring in veteran talent for a playoff run. While the Blue Jays don’t boast as many flashy names compared to the season prior with Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson now gone, they still have a few players that opposing teams wouldn’t mind adding to their organization.

The Blue Jays are no stranger to the rumour mill and this upcoming season could see a few different players heading to opposing teams once the lockout ends.

Let’s take a look at some of the players in the Blue Jays system who could be used as trade bait this season, whether it be before the season begins (whenever that happens) or possibly at the trade deadline.

Adam Kloffenstein

A former third-round pick out of Magnolia High School, right-hander Adam Kloffenstein was one of the top pitching prospects in the organization entering last season. Spending another year with the Vancouver Canadians, Kloffenstein struggled in 2021, posting a 6.22 ERA through 23 starts.

Control on the mound was his biggest issue, as he walked opposing batters at a 5.4 BB/9 clip and struggled to keep runs off the board because of it. While the stats may not be jumping off the page, he still struck out batters at a high rate (9.5 K/9) and appeared in a career-high 101.1 innings in High A which is good news as he still continues to develop and work his way through the minor leagues.

If opposing clubs are looking for a prospect pitcher with a starters frame at 6’5″, the 21-year-old is one player the Jays may be comfortable dealing considering three of the five current Blue Jays starters are signed to long-term contracts with top prospects like Nate Prospect also in the mix.

If the front office is keen on keeping top pitching prospect Gunnar Hoglund, Kloffenstein is still a few years away from knocking on the big league doors but projects to be a Major League calibre starter when that time comes that could pique the interest of clubs as part of a package deal.

Nate Pearson

One of the Blue Jays top pitching prospects over the past few seasons, not many would expect Nate Pearson to be involved in some trade theories so early into his career.

Dubbed the next ace in the Jays rotation at the time of his 2020 promotion, injuries and the COVID delayed 2020 campaign have limited him to just 185.6 innings since turning pro after the 2017 MLB Draft. Known for his intense fastball and ability to strike out opposing batters, Pearson has had difficulty breaking the MLB threshold since his debut, limited to just 33.0 innings due to injury and poor performance and mostly used in the bullpen instead of the rotation.

That being said, Pearson still holds quite a bit of value and should be a starter at the MLB level once he reels in his command. With the recent emergence of Alek Manoah and a majority of the Jays rotation on long-term deals besides Hyun Jin Ryu (only two years left), Pearson’s name has floated around trade speculation articles but has not been actively involved in any rumours.

I personally don’t see the club selling on Pearson so early in his career but if the right deal comes along, it wouldn’t be crazy to think Ross Atkins and co. could pull the trigger. The Florida product’s value is currently on the lower side given the rough 2021 campaign but could be included in a trade at the deadline if he can stay healthy and log some innings either at the AAA or MLB level.

Miguel Hiraldo

Signing with the Blue Jays during the 17/18 international free agency period, Dominican product Miguel Hiraldo enters the 2022 campaign in a bit of an awkward position.

A featured name on the Jays top prospect list over recent years, Hiraldo took a step back last season with Low-A Dunedin, finishing the year with a .249/.338/.390 slash line, seven home runs, and a .727 OPS through 105 games. He did steal 29 bases and drove in 59 runs but he also struck out 111 times through 390 at-bats, which is a tough stat to look at.

Regardless of how 2021 went, Hiraldo is one name to watch this season as he could find himself in AA by season’s end if he can find the bat that helped him post a .829 OPS in Rookie Ball back in 2019.

Hiraldo is still a few years away from the big leagues but the bat speed and ability to hit across the diamond is intriguing for opposing teams looking for some prospect infield depth. Teams interested in the righty batter could snag him in the Rule 5 Draft if they so desire, as the Jays left him off the 40-man roster, most likely hoping the strikeouts and the fact he has not progressed past A ball will deter opposing organizations.

Adding Hiraldo as part of a package deal seems possible this season if the club looks to make a big splash with a team like Cleveland or Oakland.

Jordan Groshans

A prominent name on the Jays top prospect list since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Jordan Groshans is one player in the club’s minor league system who could be ready for the MLB by summer’s end.

Known for his bat, Groshans bounced back after a foot injury limited him in 2019 and after the 2020 MiLB season being cancelled to post a .291/.367/.450 slash line with the AA Fisher Cats last year. Through 75 games, the Texas product would amass seven home runs with 40 RBI while also posting a .817 OPS, adding 23 doubles while splitting time between shortstop and third base.

Groshans was a candidate to be traded last season but the front office ended up dealing Austin Martin instead. The righty-batter is still in a tough spot, as his main position is currently occupied by All-Star Bo Bichette and the Jays front office seems keen on not dealing fellow prospect Orelvis Martinez, evident by the chatter this past trade deadline.

His name could come up in the rumour mill again this year, especially if opposing clubs are looking to bolster their infield depth with a player who could make his MLB debut this season and a bat that has the ability to play at a high level. A strong start in AAA could bolster his trade value but the Blue Jays could keep him and try him out at third base if they don’t acquire a veteran player to man the hot corner.

Cavan Biggio

One player who would like to forget the 2021 campaign is Cavan Biggio. Given the opportunity to man the hot corner for the Blue Jays, Biggio did not look comfortable at the position and posted a .935 fielding percentage through 52 games before finding himself on the injured list for almost half of the season with various injuries. On top of that, the lefty batter struggled to get on base, finishing the year with a .678 OPS while owning a .224 batting average through 250 at-bats.

Last season aside, Biggio is an intriguing bat who has a knack for finding his way on base and isn’t afraid to draw the walks. Biggio is also a versatile player, possessing the ability to play multiple positions in a utility role that the Jays have flirted with since his debut back in 2019.

Biggio’s role on the club is currently up in the air, as it looks like the club is either going to roll with Santiago Espinal or an outside replacement at third base which has the Texas product either heading back to second base or the utility position. Putting him back at second makes sense but the Jays also have some internal options in Kevin Smith and Otto Lopez if they feel like gauging Biggio’s trade market interest.

While his name has not come up in any trade rumours yet, it wouldn’t be surprising if opposing clubs are intrigued by the son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, especially with his ability to play a utility role while also possessing some pop, 31 home runs through 238 games.

Under the previous CBA, Biggio is considered a Super Two Player and is not eligible for free agency until the 2026 season, which carries some weight when it comes to trade value. This could change once a new CBA is in place but the value is still there if the Jays are looking to make a splash at the deadline.

Gunnar Hoglund

The Blue Jays first-round pick in 2021, right-hander Gunnar Hoglund is one name fans have seen in various theoretical trade packages this offseason.

Currently slated to spend the first half of the campaign on the IL recovering from Tommy John surgery, Hoglund is coming off a solid three years at the University of Mississippi that saw the right-hander pitch to a 3.68 ERA through 32 appearances. He would make 11 starts in 2021 before undergoing the surgery, throwing to a 2.87 ERA through 62.2 innings pitched and accumulating 96 strikeouts to go along with a 0.910 WHIP.

The surgery did hurt his draft status, as he went from a potential top ten pick and falling all the way to the Blue Jays spot at #19, but Hoglund possesses a starters frame and an arsenal that should play at the Major League level as long as he can return to form.

Widely considered as the club’s top pitching prospect (depending on if you still consider Nate Pearson a prospect), the current Jays rotation and depth behind him in Kloffenstein, CJ Van Eyk, Ricky Tiedemann, Sem Robberse, and Irv Carter does give Ross Atkins some flexibility to trade prospect pitchers like Hoglund to help improve the current roster.

His stock could be higher if the Jays choose to trade him at the deadline once he returns to action but for opposing teams looking for prospects with the potential to be starters in the big leagues, Hoglund is one name that could be dangled by the Jays front office that carries strong value.

Randal Grichuk

Outfielder Randal Grichuk is one of the only players on the Jays roster who was able to secure a long-term deal when the club was in rebuilding mode back in 2019. Grichuk currently has two years and roughly $20 million left on his deal and with the current outfield core a bit crowded with Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Teoscar Hernandez, and George Springer on the roster, there is a chance that the Texas product could find himself on the bench compared to being on the field.

Grichuk’s hot and cold play has also rubbed fans the wrong way as of late, with the righty batter struggling to find consistency at the plate. He started the 2021 season strong, especially with Springer on the IL, but eventually cooled off towards the end of the campaign, finishing with a .703 OPS and a .241 batting average. He does have some power, evident by the 22 home runs and 81 RBI he posted through 511 at-bats last year but with the outfield already crowded, dealing Grichuk and his remaining money owed would be a wise decision for the front office.

His name was already floated in trade rumours prior to the lockout, with the Jays and Brewers discussing a deal that would have seen outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. head North of the border. The trade never materialized and Bradley Jr. was instead traded back to the Boston Red Sox prior to the lockout.

Dealing Grichuk will not be the easiest task for the Jays front office and it wouldn’t be surprising if the club has to include some cash to get a transaction done but having his salary off the books would go a long way as the club tries to improve the current roster for a playoff run. The one thing to consider with trading Grichuk is that it could present a rough scenario if injuries impact remaining outfielders this season, with Josh Palacios the only remaining candidate for the outfield after Grichuk.

Bringing back Corey Dickerson alleviates this problem but only time will tell if the front office can find a trade partner for the former St. Louis Cardinal.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Developing into a favourite amongst the dedicated Blue Jays fanbase, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has found himself a home in left field after struggling to find a spot in the infield earlier in his career.

Since heading to the outfield, Gurriel Jr. has been nominated for the Gold Glove Award in back-to-back seasons (2020 and 2021), mostly due to his cannon of an arm that has accumulated 15 assists over the past two campaigns. He also posted a 6 bDRS back in 2020 and followed that up with a 1 bDRS, with his 0.1 dWAR last season surprisingly ranking high against fellow AL left fielders. Gurriel Jr. is also no slouch in the batter’s box, owning a .282/.324/.492 slash line and a .816 OPS through 347 at-bats over the course of four seasons, with the righty-batter earning 202 RBI to go along with 63 round-trippers.

Signed as an international free agent back in 2016, Gurriel Jr. inked a seven-year deal worth a team-friendly $22 million, with the outfielder currently slated to hit free agency after the 2023 campaign. While his name has not been thrown around too much on the rumour mill, clubs looking for an affordable outfielder with MLB experience will 100% be interested in the Cuban product.

If the Jays are not able to trade Grichuk and teams are interested in Gurriel Jr. to complete a package deal, it might be tough for Ross Atkins and co. to pass on the opportunity to improve other areas on the roster. This trade does leave the same scenario mentioned earlier with the Grichuk deal (Palacios being the remaining bench option barring outside reinforcements) but a trade involving Gurriel Jr. is most likely going to carry some weight when it comes to trade return.

Any deal including the righty-batter will certainly cause an uproar amongst the Jays fanbase but the return should be significant if he is included, hopefully outweighing the loss of Gurriel Jr. if he does get traded.