Grading the Blue Jays' 2025 Trade Deadline

Pencils down. The 2025 MLB Trade deadline has officially passed. After a wild few weeks that saw over 30 trades on deadline day alone, the Toronto Blue Jays wrapped up July with four deals. Despite being linked to big names like David Bednar and Ryan Helsley, the Blue Jays didn't make flashy moves, with most of their top prospects intact.

Now that the dust has settled for the league and players begin making their way to their new clubhouses, how did the Blue Jays do with their transactions?

Grading the Blue Jays' 2025 Trade Deadline

Trade No. 1 - Seranthony Domínguez

First impressions are everything, and Seranthony Domínguez has undoubtedly made an impression on Blue Jays fans.

Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles between their Tuesday doubleheader at Camden Yards, Dominguez came out firing from the bullpen. In two appearances, Dominguez hasn't allowed a hit and already racked up four strikeouts. The Blue Jays needed a bullpen boost, and this move already has early implications as to why Toronto made the call.

Now settled with Double-A Chesapeake Baysox, Watts-Brown was re-ranked to the Orioles' number 8 prospect. After posting a 4-14 record between Single-A Dunedin and High-A Vancouver, Watts-Brown has begun to show progress with Double-A New Hampshire. The young right-hander posted a 2-2 record in 11 starts with a 3.48 ERA and 53 strikeouts, keeping batters to an average of .201. With lots of room for development, it was most likely a safe bet to part ways with.

Grade: A-

Trade No. 2 - Shane Bieber

The final day of the trade deadline began with a surprising move that saw the Blue Jays trade for former Cy Young and Triple Crown winner Shane Bieber. Toronto was in the market for a starting pitcher, and many wouldn't have anticipated somebody coming off Tommy John Surgery.

Bieber has shown signs of his old self in his four rehab starts, posting a 1.59 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 11.1 innings. While it's safe to say his return to the Majors is close, it's worth wondering if he'll be his old Cy Young self the rest of the way.

Another significant thought is whether the price for a veteran who will most likely hit free agency after this season is too much in the likes of Khal Stephen? Ranked as Toronto's number five prospect in the organization, Stephen was a big loss. His 9-1 record with a 2.06 ERA in 17 starts in Double-A New Hampshire is a promising sign for his bright future.

If Bieber can return to his Triple Crown form and even potentially exercise his 2026 player option, then this deal would be worth it. For now, Blue Jays fans hold their breath and see how this pans out.

Grade: B -

Trade No. 3 - Brandon Valenzuela

The San Diego Padres had one of the busiest trade deadline days when compared to the rest of the league. In total, the Padres let go of 13 prospects to fill multiple needs that they desperately needed.

Along the way, San Diego acquired Blue Jays infielder Will Wagner for their number 26 prospect, catcher Brandon Valenzuela. The Athletic's Mitch Bannon stated on Tuesday that Toronto was willing to trade position players who were with the big league club. Wagner was ultimately the one to go. But, with a bench that's currently deep with the likes of Joey Loperfido, Davis Schneider, and Nathan Lukes, there was flexibility to trade Wagner.

Valenzuela has hit 12 home runs and 46 RBIs with Double-A San Antonio and has seen time in Triple-A in 2024. The Blue Jays were in dire need of catching depth after Alejandro Kirk went on the seven-day injured list with a concussion. The newest catcher in the Blue Jays' farm system was ranked 28th in their Top 30 list.

The move cleared up a spot on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster, which was ultimately the path needed for Toronto's final trade of the day. In a move that won't move the needle for a playoff push, this is one that'll quietly go under the radar.

Grade: C+

Trade No. 4 - Louis Varland and Ty France

The final five minutes of the trade deadline proved to be stressful for Blue Jays fans. In what felt like an underwhelming day, leaving more to improve for the team, Ross Atkins delivered at the buzzer in a big way.

Toronto found some last-minute bullpen help in the likes of Louis Varland and Wagner's utility replacement in Ty France. It came at a price with Alan Roden and the newly ranked fifth prospect in Kendrys Rojas. However, it may end up being worth it in the long run.

Varland is a hard-throwing pitcher with a 2.02 ERA and a high groundball rate of 54.5%. His fastball sits in the 95th percentile, averaging 98.1 MPH. 2025 is shaping up to be his breakout year, and the Blue Jays needed that other reliable arm in the bullpen. More importantly, Varland is under team control until 2031.

France is a free agent at the end of the year, but his role off the bench could prove worthwhile among the rest of the utility options for manager John Schneider. His right-handed bat immediately replaces the void Wagner left upon being traded.

While giving up Rojas may be tough down the road, when you have the chance to pick up a hard-throwing pitcher with many years left on his contract, you take it.

Grade: A

Final Grade: B+

Toronto was linked to a lot of big names over the last few weeks. Eugenio Suarez, David Bednar, Steven Kwan, the list goes on. Ultimately, the Blue Jays never landed those "big names" that many anticipated to be playing for Canada's only team. When you look at it from that perspective, it can sting, especially when the rival teams are stacking up their rosters.

However, the Blue Jays are still first in the American League East. It's a team that got there with the roster they had before the trade deadline. That's not something that should be entirely ignored.

Their bullpen is, without a doubt, better today than it was before the deadline. The additions of Dominguez and Varland enhance their pitching options, and if Yimi Garcia returns, then the Blue Jays will have an abundance of possibilities for those crucial late innings. As for the missing bat that fans wanted to see at the deadline, don't forget Daulton Varsho's return is imminent, and he's a bat the Blue Jays are ready to welcome back to the lineup.

Ultimately, Bieber's addition will be the move that will be looked at the most. The question of where Bieber would fit in the starting rotation will spark debate when the time comes. Regardless, it's the high-risk, high-reward deal that the Blue Jays are known to make. We'll see if it pans out.