Blue Jays handed strange 'best trade deadline fit' by ex-MLB GM

The Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in a very awkward position right now. They are still technically right in the playoff mix if you look at the standings but if you actually look at how they are playing right now, there's no way one could believe they are a playoff team.

What makes it even more perplexing is looking at the group of players they currently have and one would have to think "surely, this is a playoff team." But when you look at the numbers, once again there is no way a team with only one hitter who has double digits in home runs and only two qualified hitters with a wRC+ over 100 in July should even consider themselves as a playoff team.

That makes their trade deadline strategy a bit perplexing right now. There are some obvious needs, and a power bat is right at the top of that need. Waiting until Aug. 3 when the MLB Trade Deadline comes up might be too long of a wait though - but unless other teams are willing to come to the table, the Blue Jays are stuck between trying to win with what they have, or looking to the future and reseting for 2027.

Ex-MLB GM Jim Bowden has offered a strange solution though. In his latest "best trade deadline fit" article written for The Athletic, Bowden suggests the Blue Jays give the Cincinnati Reds a call about a versatile right-handed hitter, who is still in his arbitration years. That player is Spencer Steer, and if the fit doesn't immediately jump out to you, you're not alone.

Bowden writes, "The Blue Jays are hoping for better health and haven’t yet told other teams what they’ll be targeting. However, they are among the worst teams in baseball in terms of runs scored and home runs, so targeting a power bat makes sense.

Steer can play first, third and left and is on pace to eclipse 20 homers for the fourth consecutive year. He’s still only 28 but is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason, which is why the Reds could move on from him."

A right-handed power bat that can mix into the outfield is definitely something the Blue Jays should be interested in and Steer's 14 home runs (as of Jul. 7) would lead everyone on the team not named Kazuma Okamoto. However, Steer doesn't offer a whole lot else at this point. A career .242 hitter with a .748 OPS are fine, but depending on what the price is, it might be asking too much to give up for a guy that is "just fine."

This season, Steer is slashing .238/.317/.422 with a 99 wRC+. It's almost as if this suggestion by Bowden is saying that "beggars can't be choosers" as Steer's numbers aren't blowing anyone away - but they are better than most of the current Blue Jays' every day players and that's, again, where the problem lies.

Blue Jays need real game changers, not another part-timer

If the Blue Jays are going to actually get back into contention, they need someone who is a true, middle-of-the-order masher who can break a game open. Someone who strikes fear into the hearts of pitchers. Unfortunately, Steer just isn't that guy and that's why this "best fit" idea is a strange one.

Steer is a very useful player, but the Blue Jays have quite a few of those already on their roster. As mentioned by Jeff Passan of ESPN a few days ago, the Blue Jays would be better off buying a little higher in the market and targeting a player in the CJ Abrams, Jeremy Peña, Wilson Contreras categories. If they are going to spend the prospect capital on guys who can be game changers, and still have some term left on their contract, you might as well go after the ones that immediately upgrade the lineup.

Steer could for sure be a fit on this Blue Jays club - but he shouldn't be the one move Toronto makes if they are hoping to climb the standings in the second half of the season.

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