6 prospects the Blue Jays could use as trade bait this offseason

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With the Toronto Blue Jays having multiple positions to address this offseason, one plausible way they could restock their roster without giving up any assets is via free agency. However, they won’t be able to sign all of the free agent targets that they have in mind due to various reasons, such as budget, roster constraints, and competition from other teams. As a result, they may be forced to explore the trade route if no suitable internal options are available as well. In such cases, which of the Blue Jays’ promising prospects could be potentially used as trade bait this offseason to fulfill their needs?

Here, we take a look at six candidates that could be on the move to help the Jays complete their roster rebuild for 2024.

RHP Yosver Zulueta

Heading into the 2023 season, Yosver Zulueta was among the top five prospects in the organization according to MLB Pipeline. Armed with a blazing fastball that could hit triple digits, he was basically following along the lines of a right-handed Aroldis Chapman or Jordan Hicks. After ascending rapidly through the ranks in the minor leagues the past couple of seasons, Zulueta encountered more difficulties this season with the Buffalo Bisons as he often struggled with his control and command.

At one point, it was believed that he could have made his major league debut this year. However, Zulueta ended up regressing a bit in his growth and development as he posted a 4.08 ERA, along with a 1.53 WHIP, giving up 29 earned runs, a whopping 45 walks and 73 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.

On the bright side, he only allowed one home run all season despite his lack of control. By the end of the season, he had fallen to 10th on the Jays’ top prospects list. With the Jays possessing a strong bullpen core already heading into the 2024 season, along with the likes of Nate Pearson and others waiting in the wings for their chance, Zulueta may be better served in using him as part of a trade package to help the ballclub address their other needs.

1B/OF Spencer Horwitz

Last season, Spencer Horwitz had one of the best seasons in his professional career in Triple-A Buffalo. Known for being a solid contact hitter with great plate discipline, Horwitz posted strong numbers across the board in the 107 games he played with the Bisons. In total, he hit an impressive .337 with a .945 OPS, along with 61 runs scored, 30 doubles, 10 home runs, 72 RBI, 78 walks and 72 strikeouts. Perhaps one of the most MLB-ready bats in the Jays’ minor league system, his stellar performance earned him a couple of stints with the big league team during the 2023 season.

With the Jays, Horwitz fared well in 15 games, as he compiled a .256 average, .726 OPS, with five runs scored, two doubles, a home run and seven RBI. With Brandon Belt set to move on, Horwitz would be the ideal replacement for Belt at the DH spot. After his dominance in the minors this past season, there is practically nothing left for Horwitz to prove, as he certainly belongs in the majors already. However, if the Jays end up re-signing Belt or pursue another veteran hitter to fulfill the DH role, Horwitz could get the short end of the stick again. In such case, he would be most valuable as a potential trade chip, rather than keeping him buried in the minors for yet another season.

INF Addison Barger

Addison Barger actually had an impressive Spring Training with the Jays in 2023 that almost earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster. Nevertheless, he returned to Buffalo to continue to prove that he is more than capable of becoming a solid contributor at the major league level. However, his progress would be interrupted by an elbow injury he sustained in April and would end up missing a huge chunk of the season as a result of it.

In the end, Barger took a step back in 2023 compared to his 2022 performance, as he hit only .250 with a .756 OPS, 53 runs scored, 25 doubles, 9 home runs and 46 RBI in 88 games played. That was a far cry from the .308 average with 26 home runs and 91 RBI he produced across three minor league levels in 2022.

Barger will once again try to earning a spot on the Jays’ 2024 Opening Day roster this upcoming spring. However, with the solid play of both Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider in their MLB stints with the Jays in 2022, as well as the presences of both Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal on the roster, the opportunities for Barger could be few and far between. As a result, the organization’s fifth-best prospect could be used as some high-end trade bait this offseason.

INF Damiano Palmegiani

Drafted in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Jays, Damiano Palmegiani has certainly taken great strides in his growth and development the past two seasons. Moving from Low-A all the way to Triple-A in just a span of two years, Palmegiani has performed beyond expectations and has suddenly put himself on the Jays’ radar going into 2024. He is currently ranked 18th on the Jays’ prospect list.

In 2023, Palmegiani put together a solid season in which he hit .255 with an .842 OPS, along with 70 runs scored, 33 doubles, 23 home runs and 93 RBI between his time at New Hampshire and Buffalo. He has continued that success currently in the Arizona Fall League, as in 22 games, he has posted a .263 average, .941 OPS, with 22 runs scored, 5 doubles, 6 home runs and 21 RBI. In doing so, he even made the AFL Home Run Derby in which he ended up finishing second in the event.

If the Jays wish to retain their higher ranking prospect in Barger, Palmegiani would be a great alternative trade chip given his recent rise to prominence.

INF Leo Jimenez

Leo Jimenez has taken quite the leap in his development during the past three years in the Jays system. Starting off as just a pure contact hitter in his debut with little to no power, Jimenez has now added some of that element to his game in recent years. Pair that with his strong defensive abilities, it has suddenly made him an intriguing prospect to monitor.

In 2023, Jimenez had a productive season split between New Hampshire and Buffalo in which he hit .270 with a .767 OPS, along with 62 runs scored, 18 doubles, 8 home runs, 47 RBI and 8 stolen bases. In doing so, he rose all the way to sixth among the Jays’ top prospects list by the end of the season.

The fact that the Jays have already added Jimenez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft meant that the team sees some value in him. But with shortstop being his strongest position, the presence of Bo Bichette could block his path to the majors. So the Jays could take full advantage of his growth and potential right now by including him in a trade package this offseason.

UTIL Otto Lopez

For Otto Lopez, he actually already made his debut with the Jays back in the 2022 season. He performed admirably in the eight games he played, with 6 hits in 9 at-bats, along with three runs driven in and a 1.367 OPS. With the defensive flexibility to play all over the infield and outfield, he has the potential to become a capable big league utilityman in the future.

Similar to Barger, Lopez impressed during Spring Training in 2023. On top of that, he played a key role for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic in helping them to two important wins at the event. However, a subpar regular season in Buffalo held him back from being called up to the big leagues this year, as he hit only .258 with a .656 OPS, along with 48 runs scored, 9 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, 35 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 84 games played.

Earlier this season, we even pegged Lopez as a strong trade chip the Jays could have used at the trade deadline to upgrade their roster. His strongest attributes lie in his versatility, speed, and overall defensive play. So similarly now in the offseason, he will continue to be a valuable trade chip that the ballclub can utilize once again to fix their roster for 2024.

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