Jeff Passan says Blue Jays could be interested in Mets' infielder, but not the one fans expect

It's safe to say this isn't the season that the Toronto Blue Jays had in mind after the finish they experienced last season, when they were two outs away from winning their first World Series since 1993. Although they have suffered numerous injuries and have had an offense that has struggled, they find themselves within 4.5 games of the third Wild Card spot.

The American League is weak this season, so it's not out of the question for the Blue Jays to be buyers at the trade deadline. They have several key matchups that could help them gain ground on the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card. The New York Mets have become a popular team in the rumor mill after announcing that everyone is available except for a couple of younger players who have thrived this season and Juan Soto.

ESPN Insider connects the Blue Jays to a Mets’ infielder not named Bo Bichette

There's one Mets infielder that ESPN insider Jeff Passan has connected to the Blue Jays, but it's not Bo Bichette. Passan says Francisco Lindor could be a name the Blue Jays may check in on because of his connection to general manager Ross Atkins. In 2011, Atkins was the then Cleveland Indians' vice president of player development. He oversaw the farm system development and was a key figure in the decision process to draft Lindor that year.

Lindor would bring a strong defensive glove at shortstop and can produce at the plate. His bat is what sets him miles apart from the Blue Jays' current shortstop, Andrés Giménez. Describing Lindor, Passan said, "The production has been consistently awesome; like when Francisco Lindor is right, he's an annual 6 WAR player. He is a great defensive shortstop who hits about 30% more than league average."

For Lindor to fit, you'd think the Blue Jays need to trade George Springer before the deadline, because he's on an expiring contract, is having a down season, and the Blue Jays are unlikely to re-sign their 36-year-old DH. This move would allow Giménez to move to second base, Ernie Clement to move to third base, and Kazuma Okamoto to slot in as DH, while periodically spelling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base.

That configuration gives the Blue Jays one of the strongest defensive infields in MLB. The offense also gets a boost from Lindor's bat, replacing the aging Springer's. However, trading for Lindor has plenty of question marks and hurdles. He turns 33 in November, and he still has six years remaining on the 10-year, $341 million deal he signed in 2021. The Blue Jays would likely have to take on a chunk of that contract and give up a top prospect, which Passan mentioned being Arjun Nimmala.

So, do the Blue Jays take the risk of taking on a massive contract and trading away a near MLB-ready prospect for an aging player who is having the worst season of his 12-year career? Lindor is slashing .220/.304/.390 with 23 runs, 6 home runs, and 15 RBIs, but has only played in 43 of the Mets' 100 games this season.

It'd definitely take Atkins out of his comfort zone, but bringing in a bat with superstar potential may be the shakeup that the Blue Jays need to kickstart their offense. He would have to decide whether Lindor's struggles are due to his age or whether a change of scenery would boost the shortstop. One thing is for certain: the Blue Jays need to make an offensive change if they intend to make up some ground this season.

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