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

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.