Blue Jays should make a serious push for these Red Sox trade candidates

While the Toronto Blue Jays continue their battle back to relevancy in 2026 it shouldn't come as a surprise that they'll be looking to add to their roster between now and the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. They have been bitten by the injury bug often since the start of the season and have received some very uninspiring performances from some of their more notable players.

That's put them into a position where they might need to add more than just one guy at the deadline and the front office should already be working the phones to see what teams may be looking for in various deals. When looking at this year's likely selling teams, the Boston Red Sox immediately stand out because they have multiple trade candidates who would help address many of the Blue Jays' current roster needs.

Three specific Red Sox trade candidates who the Blue Jays would be very wise to target ahead of the deadline are closer Aroldis Chapman, starter Sonny Gray, and first baseman Willson Contreras. They each would be excellent additions to the Blue Jays' roster as they look to go on another run this fall.

Chapman, Gray & Contreras would all provide the Blue Jays' roster with a major boost

If the Blue Jays landed Chapman, he would provide them with a clear answer for their closer role. The 38-year-old lefty is still one of baseball's most dominant relievers and is having a strong season for Boston. In 23 games, he currently has a 2.08 ERA and 29 strikeouts. Despite losing the game in Colorado the other night, he still sports a 12.05 K/9 rate and and a 1.81 FIP.

This is after he had a 5-3 record and a 1.17 ERA in 67 games for Boston in 2025. With Chapman being one of baseball's top closers, the Blue Jays would have a lot of competition if they targeted him and the Red Sox likely wouldn't be keen on helping make their division rivals stronger playoff contenders, especially in such a crucial area of their roster.

With Gray, the Blue Jays would be adding another strong starting pitcher to their rotation. The 36-year-old has an impressive 8-1 record on a bad Red Sox team this season to go along with a 3.12 ERA. With numbers like these, the three-time All-Star pitcher can still make an impact and would be a very good addition to Toronto's roster.

As for Contreras, he would provide the Blue Jays with another much-needed power hitter in their lineup. In 74 games this season for Boston, the 11-year veteran has 16 home runs, 45 RBI, and a .281 batting average. He would provide the Blue Jays' offense with a bit more pop, which is a real need right now.

There is always a risk when trading prospects within the division, so some may be against the idea of the Blue Jays doing business with the Red Sox. However, if it means landing at least one of Chapman, Gray, or Contreras, it is something that the Blue Jays should strongly consider.

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