5 must-watch Blue Jays minor league players in 2027, if they aren't traded this winter

The Toronto Blue Jays haven't been shy about trading top ranked propects. General Manager Ross Atkins has pulled the trigger on several eyebrow raising deals in his tenure.

In 2021 he moved No. 2 prospect Austin Martin to Minnesota in the José Berrios trade. This past summer, it was another No. 2 prospect who was moved at the August 3 deadline. Arjun Nimmala, their 2023 first-rounder, was part of a package that the LA Angels accepted in exchange for José Soriano.

So it's not out of the question that the Blue Jays continue to move higher ranked prospects in an effort to make their big league roster better for 2027. These five prospects could be trade chips this winter, but if they stay in Toronto's system, they will be worth keeping an eye on.

Sean Keys and Nolan Perry could help the big league roster as trade chips, or by reaching the majors

Sean Keys - 1B/3B/OF

Keys was the Blue Jays "Prospect of the Year" according to MLB Pipeline. He hit 28 home runs between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, the most in the system and the second most in the entire organization behind Kazuma Okamoto's 33 with the Blue Jays.

He wasn't just a pure slugger either, he slashed 294/.417/.602 slash line, a 1.019 OPS and a 165 wRC+ in 100 minor league games. He made a couple of appearances at the big league level and hit .197 with two homers in 25 big-league games. It was a small sample, but he started to look more comfortable the more plate apperances he got hitting .240/.310/.400.

He could come into camp and earn a role as the team's everyday designated hitter in 2027, spelling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto at the corners, but because he is blocked at both infield spots he could be the kind of bat a rebuilding team asks for in a trade. Think of the Spencer Horwitz trade for Andrés Giménez ahead of the 2025 season. If the Blue Jays can get a long-term controllable asset that is already established in the big leagues, Keys may be dealt.

Nolan Perry - RHP

Perry was the pitching Prospect of the Year:, and he earned it. He pitched to a 2.50 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 82.2 innings across three levels, a 36 percent strikeout rate, and a Futures Game appearance, all while coming back from Tommy John surgery.

He is probably the easiest Rule 5 call on the roster. The Blue Jays should protect him and put him on the 40-man roster considering he could be a dark horse contender for an Opening Day rotation spot with a strong spring. At the very least he should be one of the first internal options for a call up in the event there is an injury.

He's also likely to be on the list of every team that calls Toronto this month with a trade proposal. That is a compliment to him and the work he has put in. Similar to Keys, if the Blue Jays think they can get an already established major league piece, such as a Logan Gilbert, it may be worth the risk. If they hold on to him, he might not stay in the minors for much longer.

Alexis Hernandez - OF

The 24-year-old Hernandez is the most interesting name on this list, because of his Rule 5 eligibility. The Blue Jays took him from the Red Sox in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft in December 2023 and this past year was a breakout season for him.

He reached Double-A and in 98 games across High-A Vancouver and New Hampshire, he hit .298/.386/.493 with 15 home runs, 16 stolen bases and a 132 wRC+. He can play all three outfield spots and was a Northwest League All-Star, ranking third in OPS among qualified hitters in the league.

He is not in MLB Pipeline's Top 30, and you could argue he is not at risk of being picked in the major league phase for exactly that reason, but is that a risk the Blue Jays are willing to take? He could also be packaged with one of the players above to sweeten a trade deal. If he stays in the system, he could get a chance to make his MLB debut later this year considering the lack of right-handed hitting outfielders the Blue Jays currently have.

Josh Kasevich and Jay Harry - UTIL

These two go together, because they are at a very similar stage of their career and their values are arguably identical. Both are Rule 5-eligible, both spent 2026 on the cusp of a call-up, and both are the kind of player who gets included as the second or third piece in a winter deal, or lost for nothing if the Jays cannot find room for them.

Kasevich was the Buffalo Bisons MVP after hitting .282/.364/.363 with a .727 OPS in 572 plate appearances over 130 games at Triple-A. He had a remarkably low 11.3 percent strikeout rate and played strong defence all over the infield. The knock is his slug with only four home runs, and a .363 slugging percentage.

Harry broke out in 2026, climbing from Single-A all the way to Triple-A and slashing .298/.343/.495 with 14 home runs in 105 games. He played shortstop, second base, centre field and both corner outfield spots. A hip injury cost the No. 21 prospect an entire month, but he bounced back for a good finish. His contact skills plus his versatility make him a strong Rule 5 pick if the Blue Jays leave him exposed.

The Blue Jays have already shown they will trade the future for the present. If Gilbert, CJ Abrams or Jeremy Peña are actually on the table, then any of those deals would likely involve one or more of the names mentioned.

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