6 prospects Blue Jays should target from contending teams if they sell at trade deadline

The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t expect to be in this position before July, but at 40-45 entering the final day of June, the next month could determine their deadline direction. A run could still push them into buyer mode, which remains the preferred outcome. If they keep sliding, though, a “soft sell” may become the more practical path.

That wouldn’t mean a full teardown. It would likely mean moving expiring contracts or older pieces while trying to add near-ready talent. Kevin Gausman, George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Shane Bieber, Jeff Hoffman and Nathan Lukes could all draw interest, with the first four headed for free agency after the season.

If Toronto does sell, three contenders stand out as fits: the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox. Each could use help from the Blue Jays’ roster, and each has two prospects worth monitoring.

Toronto can target some top-10 prospects, even in a soft sell

The Phillies have been one of the league's best teams since a managerial switch that saw former Blue Jays' coach, Don Mattingly, take over the reigns from Canadian Rob Thomson. Since Apr. 28 the Phillies are 38-19 and just three games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

Their need is pitching. Philadelphia’s starters have a 4.20 ERA, ranking 13th in MLB, and Andrew Painter has struggled badly in recent weeks. That could make Gausman or Bieber appealing, though both would need to show enough before the deadline: Gausman is coming off a rough June, while Bieber still has to prove he is fully recovered.

If either pitcher interests the Phillies, Toronto should ask about Gage Wood or Aroon Escobar. Wood, Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect and MLB’s No. 55 overall prospect, may be difficult to pry loose. The former first-rounder skipped High-A this season and has held his own at Double-A Reading.

Since the promotion, Wood has posted a 3.92 ERA in 20.2 innings with 29 strikeouts. He has a fastball that touches 98 mph with a curve that sits at 82-85 mph, and a developing upper-80s slider.

Escobar, the Phillies’ No. 4 prospect, fits Toronto’s offensive profile. The 21-year-old second baseman is hitting .231/.331/.331 with six homers, 41 RBIs, 19 steals and 39 walks in 74 games. His patience, low chase tendencies and base-running aggressiveness all line up with the traits the Blue Jays value.

Sticking in the National League, the NL Central-leading Brewers are one of the league’s better contact teams, carrying a .253/.337/.395 slash line, but they lack consistent power.

That makes Varsho an intriguing fit. Toronto does not have much power to spare, but Varsho’s bat flashed enough upside last season that Milwaukee could be tempted, especially with only Jackson Chourio currently out-homering him among Brewers outfielders.

Toronto could target Josh Adamczewski and Jett Williams.
Adamczewski, a 21-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder, is smashing the ball this season between High-A Wisconsin Double-A Biloxi. He's hit .340/.458/.557 with nine home runs, 44 walks and 11 stolen bases. He was drafted in the 15th round by the Brewers in 2023 and has steadily climbed through the system.

Williams, Milwaukee’s No. 5 prospect and MLB’s No. 84 overall prospect, has a different profile. The 22-year-old former Mets first-rounder has struggled with contact at Triple-A, but he still has a .715 OPS, nine homers and 44 walks in 73 games. His ability to play up the middle and in the outfield would appeal to a Blue Jays team that values versatility.

The Brewers also have SS Jesús Made, INF Luis Peña, SS Cooper Pratt and OF Luis Lara as their their top four prospects in the system, the Brewers would easily be able to absorb the loss of either Adamczewski or Williams.

In the American League, the White Sox have been one of the season’s biggest surprises, leading the AL Central at 44-39. Their bullpen looks like the clearest weakness, which could make Hoffman an obvious fit, though Toronto has other arms that could interest Chicago as well.

If the Blue Jays are going to want a top-10 prospect it's going to take more than one reliever to make it happen, but there are two Toronto should be trying to get out of the White Sox system; LHP Hagen Smith and RHP Tanner McDougal. These are Chicago's No. 4 and No. 6 prospects respectively.

Smith is a 6-foot-3, 22-year-old, and a former first-round draft pick of the White Sox (2024) who hasn't quite yet developed the way Chicago was hoping for. While he's currently recovering from a shoulder impingement, he's played with Triple-A Charlotte all year. This is his first foray into Triple-A and before the injury he had pitched to a 4.67 ERA in 14 starts. But his 77 strikeouts and .200 opponents average in 52 innings are very impressive.

Just as impressive is McDougal's ability to touch 101 on the radar gun. McDougal is also pitching in Triple-A for the first time this season and he owns a 3.00 ERA, 10.13 K/9 rate, .192 BABIP against and 1.04 WHIP. He could develop into a mid-rotation starter or a high-leverage reliever. McDougal is ramping up from a forearm injury though so the Blue Jays would want to make sure he's fully healthy in their trade talks.

The Blue Jays don’t need to rush into selling, but if July pushes them out of the race, these six prospects should be on their radar. A soft sell would only make sense if Toronto can turn short-term pieces into players who could help the next competitive core which should be as early as next year.

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