4 changes the Blue Jays must make immediately to avoid tumbling down the standings

We’ve reached the dumpster fire stage. The Toronto Blue Jays are now tied with Oakland — yes, the very recently sad sack Athletics — in the Wild Card standings. After a disheartening 10-1 loss against the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies, with their best starter on the bump Tuesday, the Jays fell 7.5 games back of the Orioles and Yankees in the the AL East, in last place. They’ve lost 10 of their last 14.

Despite salvaging a series split in Philadelphia on Thursday, the Blue Jays remain 4.5 games back in the Wild Card chase, with a -44 run differential, only better than other last place teams like the Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies.

Manager John Schneider seems like he’s at his wit’s end, getting thrown out of Tuesday night’s game for arguing called strikes. The offence has been mostly listless, as evidenced by a league worst .566 OPS with runners in scoring position.

It’s gotten so bad, MLB insiders are starting to suggest Toronto may be a seller at the July 30th trade deadline. General manager Ross Atkins has been dumpster diving à la May 2021, leaving no stone unturned in the search for pitching help.

The team ERA is 4.64, sixth-highest in MLB, and opposing teams are batting .260 against Jays pitchers, the 4th highest average in the league. The bullpen has allowed a league high 22 home runs, so news that the team’s best reliever this season, Yimi García, has been unavailable to pitch due to a lower back issue only adds to the hurt.

But apart from a July trade deadline fire sale, what other moves should the Blue Jays organization make before it’s too late for this season? Below, we suggest four changes the organization needs to make immediately to avoid tumbling down the standings.