3 ESPN trade suitors the Blue Jays should keep an eye on

Time is ticking down as MLB's Trade Deadline is now over a week away. For the Toronto Blue Jays and General Manager Ross Atkins, it's almost a certainty they'll make a move as they currently lead the American League East and are catching up to the AL-best Detroit Tigers.

In preparation for the July 31 deadline, ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiely McDaniel released their top 50 trade deadline candidates. According to the post, ten out of the 50 players are suitors for the Blue Jays.

With a lot of interesting options for Ross Atkins, here are three players the Blue Jays should consider from the list.

OF - Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians

The first option the Blue Jays should consider is a player who treats Toronto like a punching bag. Cleveland Guardians' outfielder Steven Kwan has been a hitting machine anytime he steps up to the plate against the Blue Jays. In 24 career appearances, Kwan has slashed .300/.352/.450 with an OPS of .802. So far in 2025, Kwan has proven his value for the Guardians with a 2.1 WAR and a 109 wRC+. His walk-to-strikeout ratio sits at 1.06, fourth-best amongst players in all of MLB.

After Santander's disastrous start to the season and an unknown timeline for his return, trading for an outfielder to bolster the depth isn't the worst idea. However, in Kwan's case, the Guardians' asking price for the three-time Gold Glover is a deal "they can win outright," per The Athletic's Jim Bowden.

SP - Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins

2022 was a big breakout year for Miami Marlins' starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. The star right-hander posted a 14-9 record with a 2.28 ERA en route to his first career Cy Young Award. Unfortunately, Alcantara regressed in 2023 and would go on to miss the 2024 season after getting Tommy John surgery in October 2023.

The two-time All-Star continues to struggle in 2025, with his ERA inflated to 7.14 in 19 starts, resulting in a 4-9 record. However, a change of scenery could benefit Alacantara and there's still value in trading for a former Cy Young Winner.

Alacantara's fastball velocity continues to be in the upper percentile at 91 when compared to the rest of the league, per Baseball Savant. His ground ball percentage also sits above average in the 70th percentile. Under team control until 2027, taking a flyer on one of Miami's best may not seem like the worst option.

SP - Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals' starting pitcher Seth Lugo has had a solid first half of the 2025 season. In 18 starts, he's gone 6-5 with a 2.94 ERA. Lugo was a runner-up for the Cy Young in 2024, alongside winning a Gold Glove and earning his first All-Star selection.

What makes Lugo unique is that he's putting up substantial numbers on the mound despite having low MLB percentiles, as seen on Baseball Savant. His fastball velocity sits in the 12th percentile, his chase rate is 15, and his strikeout percentage is considered average at 46. Whatever he's doing on the mound, it's working and attracting the rest of the league for the trade deadline.

Lugo currently has a player option for the 2026 season, which USA Today's Bob Nightengale states it could be the reason why the Royals are expected to move the right-hander. Should Lugo continue to keep up his strong performance and keep his ERA low, you're looking at a big piece for a playoff push.