4 trade deadline targets that could push Blue Jays back into contention right away in 2027

The Toronto Blue Jays are not in the cleanest position as the 2026 trade deadline nears, but that doesn't mean GM Ross Atkins and the front office have to go into Aug. 3 as "only" sellers. One reason is they actually don't have a ton to sell, with most of their impending free agents likely only bringing back marginal returns. Though, they getting anything in return is better than nothing at this point.

They could also treat the 2026 deadline as a way to get an early jump on how they want to shape the team heading into 2027. Most of the core will still be in-tact and that window of contention will still be open - though the members of that core will need to have much better seasons than they are currently having.

The Blue Jays will have some questions marks in the rotation and within the lineup and there are ways to answer some of those questions by targeting guys who have been involved in trade rumors for the last few weeks. If they can lock in on some of these controllable players, it gives them a giant head start on their winter workload.

Emerson Hancock, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Having a healthy rotation could do wonders for the Blue Jays in 2027. Right now only Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage can be counted upon to be locks on Opening Day next year. Other guys who will be fighting for spots include Cody Ponce, José Berrios, Bowden Francis, Jake Bloss and Ricky Tiedemann - but they are all coming off injury plagued campaigns.

Spencer Miles, CJ Van Eyk, and Chad Dallas will compete as well, but there's a lot of inexperience there. The same goes for Cole Carlon, Toronto's first round pick in this year's draft, or Nolan Perry, who has climbed three levels of minor league ball this season.

So having a 27-year-old, inexpensive option that is under club control until the end of the decade would be exactly the kind of arm the Blue Jays would covet. 2026 is the first time in his career that Hancock has reached 100+ innings at the MLB level in a single season. He has steadily improved with each passing year and through 19 games has pitched to a 3.16 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.01 WHIP and has kept hitters to a .245 BABIP.

The Mariners however are looking for win-now players in exchange, namely relief help and a right-handed bat. Perhaps a package built around Jeff Hoffman, George Springer a top-20 prospect and a lower ranked prospect gets this done.

Hoffman has put up elite numbers since the beginning of June. He sports a 1.33 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched, with 27 strikeouts and an 11.95 K/9.

Springer has done most of his damage against lefties, something the Mariners desperately need. He's hit .261/.365/.439 with an .804 OPS, and a 128 wRC+ against southpaws. He's also getting hot at the right time with a .333 average and .987 OPS in 11 games since the All-Star break with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

Reid Detmers or José Soriano, SP, Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are once again enduring a lost season, but many industry experts say they are open to listening about some of their controllable players, inlcuding a pair of starters. You can almost flip a coin here on which guy the Blue Jays should aquire.

Detmers, a lefty, has put up fantastic strikeout numbers over his six year career, including in 2026, posting a 10.44 K/9 and a career best 2.74 BB/9. Soriano is a little more volatile, he's posted a BB/9 rate over four the last two seasons, but is a workhorse who can power through ball games when his stuff is working.

Just like targeting Hancock, the Blue Jays interest in either guy would be the fact that they get a controllable arm to slot into the middle of their rotation in 2027. Both guys are under club control until 2029, and that kind of term is something GM Ross Atkins has long coveted. The Angels are coveting young position-player talent, specifically a lefty power bat and a young catcher. Perhaps a deal that starts with Brandon Valenzuela and Yohendrick Piñango gets the conversation moving.

CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals

This would have to be the definition of a blockbuster. Abrams would be a dream target for Toronto and the Nationals, who are competing for a Wild Card playoff spot, have watched Abrams blossom from prospect, to one of the games better young talents right before their eyes. The 25-year-old left-handed hitting shortstop is under contract until 2029 and is putting up the best numbers of his career. He's hitting .294/.366/.565 with a 151 wRC+ and 27 home runs.

So why would the Nationals move him? Right now it would be to maximize his value before they have to pay him. What Toronto could offer is a package that gives them a "win-now" players in the rotation, bullpen and some prospects to eventually replace Abrams.

A package that contains Shane Bieber and / or Kevin Gausman as well as Tyler Rogers, Ernie Clement and prospect Arjun Nimmala might not even be enough to get it done, but that's along the lines of what the Blue Jays may have to pay.

This Blue Jays make over would have them ready to compete again in 2027

While these deals would give the Blue Jays a good starting point, there were still be some question marks heading into next season. Rotation aside, the Blue Jays don't have a clear fit at centre field and they will need someone to provide some power production around Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

These are also moves that don't force Toronto to completely deplete their farm system, while also getting rid of players on expiring contracts and maximizing the value they could get for them.

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