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Toronto Blue Jays: Early Trade Deadline Preview

By Charles Kime

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 02: General manager Ross Atkins of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on as he addresses the media after completing a trade earlier in the day that sent Kevin Pillar #11 to the San Francisco Giants during MLB game action against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on April 2, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 02: General manager Ross Atkins of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on as he addresses the media after completing a trade earlier in the day that sent Kevin Pillar #11 to the San Francisco Giants during MLB game action against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on April 2, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 16: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

July trade deadline preview?

With three wild card teams per league from this season, there may be fewer teams willing to sell; and, more teams driving up prices for trades as buyers before the August 2nd trade deadline this year, pushed back from July-end due to the delayed Opening Day.

Looking at the current standings, there are likely 12 teams far enough out of the wild card chase who could be potential sellers by the deadline. Other teams like the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies could go either way depending on how they play over the next six-plus weeks. This means there are at least 15 – and potentially 18 – teams in a position to be buyers by August.

The laws of supply and demand state that this will drive up acquisition costs for a smaller pool of available players for those teams looking to add by the deadline. In other words, it’s pretty slim pickings given so many teams still have wildcard aspirations… which will drive up the asking price for those slim pickings?

After losing Ryu to season-ending surgery, and recent bullpen wobbles, who might the Blue Jays acquire for starting pitching and relief depth?

The Jays have assets they could move in trades, with the emergence of top prospect Gabriel Moreno creating a logjam of RHH catchers alongside Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen. They have additional top 100 prospects in 3B/SS Jordan Groshans, SS/3B Orelvis Martinez and LHP Ricky Tiedemann.  Or could they look to reshape the big league roster with a blockbuster trade for a LHH power bat like OF Juan Soto, with a package built around one each of Lourdes Gurriel Jr./Teoscar Hernandez and Danny Jansen/Alejandro Kirk plus prospects?

With that in mind, who might the Blue Jays target as trade deadline additions?

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