Blue Jays Rumors: Jeff Passan stays quiet part out loud with recent trade buzz

The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline is rapidly approaching, as it is now less than two months away. Because of this, trade rumors around the league are starting to pick up. The Toronto Blue Jays are certainly going to be a team to watch between now and the deadline. They should be looking to make multiple moves, as they currently have a 37-38 record (Going into Jun. 19) and are dealing with injury trouble.

ESPN's Jeff Passan recently ranked the top MLB trade deadline candidates and named potential trade fits for each of the 100 players on the list. The Blue Jays were unsurprisingly connected to multiple of the trade candidates on Passan's list.

The Blue Jays were named among the top trade fits for starting pitchers Tarik Skubal, Joe Ryan, Reid Detmers, Freddy Peralta, Jose Soriano, and Casey Mize. Toronto was also named among the top trade fits for Boston Red Sox reliever Aroldis Chapman.

Passan has certainly made it clear what the Blue Jays should be looking for to address their pitching ahead of the trade deadline as the rotation is in clear need of an upgrade after the rash of injuries they have endured since the beginning of the season.

Skubal would certainly be the biggest prize for the Blue Jays if acquired, but it would still be very good if Toronto landed any of these pitchers. They all would have the potential to give the Blue Jays' pitching staff a nice boost if acquired. With Shane Bieber on the verge of returning, the Blue Jays may only need to add one starter, just as they did a year ago when Bieber was the key deadline pick up in a trade with Cleveland.

It will likely come down to the cost, considering the Blue Jays did deplete some of their pitching prospect capital at the deadline last year in not only the Bieber trade but also to acquire Louis Varland and Ty France. However, those moves got them to within two outs of the World Series championship and a deal for any of the pitchers named by Passan would certainly but the Blue Jays on a better path to contending again this year.

Passan also had the Blue Jays connected to some hitters

While the Blue Jays' biggest need heading toward the deadline is pitching help, Passan also had them as a potential fit for a few hitters on his trade board. Passan had two top shortstops in Jeremy Pena and CJ Abrams among his potential targets as well as Willson Contreras, Luis Arraez, Gleyber Torres, Christian Walker, and Matt Shaw.

Wih this, it is clear that the Blue Jays are being viewed as potential big buyers for this year's deadline. Bringing in pitching help and at least one more slugger would be significant for Toronto's playoff push.

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