Blue Jays must utilize this clear depth advantage on trade market

Ahead of last month's Winter Meetings, MLB.com shared their thoughts on what each team's biggest needs were while gearing up for the 2025 season.

With just over a month to go until spring training, some of those needs have been addressed by various teams, while others are still searching for their answers. That’s where the Toronto Blue Jays could step in.

After the trade to acquire Andrés Giménez the Blue Jays have an abundance of infielders, including Ernie Clement, Leo Jimenez, Davis Schneider, Will Wagner, Orelvis Martinez, and Addison Barger.

These are all guys who don’t have a permanent position for 2025, but they all offer intriguing upside with both their bats and their gloves, good for multiple positions.

Toronto has some areas of need, such as upgrading their bullpen to include some extra high-leverage options. They also don’t have a clear starting third baseman, lacking power in the lineup. There could be one or two spots open in the rotation, depending on how you feel about Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodriguez, after Alex Manoah announced he won’t be available until late in the season.

Blue Jays must utilize this clear depth advantage on trade market

Given all these areas of need, the Blue Jays should use this infield depth to acquire more significant pieces to fill a hole or two if they hope to compete for a spot in the 2025 postseason.

Looking at the needs of those teams in the MLB.com article and based on where said teams are now, there are some very interesting deals that could come together that would satisfy both sides.

The intrigue begins with the Chicago White Sox, who were reportedly shopping outfielder Luis Robert Jr. at last year's trade deadline. He’s got two years left on his deal, and when he is healthy, he is a five-tool threat. Unfortunately, he’s only played more than 100 games once in his five-year career.

The White Sox, a team that seems to be more than two years away from contention, could look to get a ton of value out of a trade of Robert Jr. that centers around younger, long-term controllable position players.

All-Star closer Mason Miller of the Athletics was another guy whose name was floated out around the trade deadline and continues to be the subject of trade rumors around the league.

We’ve seen Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins go to the trade market frequently to supplement his bullpen, and Toronto and the Athletics have come together on some high-profile trades in the past, most notably when said trades involve a third baseman.

This time, it’s the Athletics who could be in the market to add some depth or have someone push for a starting job at the hot corner, with Gio Urshela currently slated as the projected Opening Day starter.  

And after losing shortstop Willy Adames to the Giants, the Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly looking for help in the middle of the infield. Could the Jays pry away one of the Brewers' starters in a package that includes a couple of those infield options?

The Brewers dealt starter Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in February of 2024 for infield prospect Joey Ortiz and left-hander DL Hall. Maybe they look to go that route again by offering up Brandon Woodruff, who has a mutual option remaining on his deal for 2026, and will be a free agent in 2027. That could earn the Brew Crew some insurance for the recently acquire Caleb Durbin.

While most of the talk surrounding the Blue Jays this offseason has been focused on their inability to sign free agents, there are options on the table to fill their holes via the trade market using their infield depth.