9 outfielders the Blue Jays should target at the trade deadline

With our previous coverage of trade targets for starting pitching and relief pitching, this is the last of our three-part series for the Toronto Blue Jays’ trade deadline wish list in which we will be looking at outfield trade targets. In particular, these potential targets could also play in the DH spot, along with being a power bat for spot starts and coming off the bench for situational flexibility for the Blue Jays in the stretch run.

Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs

As one of the rumoured targets for the Blue Jays to sign in free agency during the past offseason, Cody Bellinger ultimately joined the Chicago Cubs on a one-year, $17.5 million “show-me” deal as he was banking on building up his stock this season in search of a more bigger, longer term deal in free agency this coming year.

For the season thus far in 2023, he has hit .298, with an .846 OPS, along with 44 runs scored, 13 doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 11 stolen bases over 58 games played. Although they are not eye-popping numbers, overall, those have been quite solid numbers for Bellinger, especially in comparison to his previous three seasons in which he has struggled mightily ever since his MVP season back in 2019. Worth noting is that his current batting average is hovering around .300, which is indeed a great sign, after hitting below .240 for much of the previous three seasons, showing that his hitting mechanics and approach at the plate has definitely improved as a result.

For someone who had close to 40 home runs in his rookie season, along with 47 more in his MVP year, the potential bulk power is definitely there. Even though he may not reach those heights again, Bellinger should still be good for 20-plus home runs and 75-plus RBI on average nowadays and is worth a shot if the Jays want to bring in his power bat to balance out their lineup. In addition, Bellinger plays center field, so he can spell Kevin Kiermaier on his off days and can serve as insurance for the team’s other outfielders.

Adam Duvall, Boston Red Sox

It has been a while since the Jays have done any business with their division rivals the Boston Red Sox. Perhaps they have been having nightmares, since the last time they did, it helped the Red Sox capture the World Series, with trade piece Steve Pearce being the World Series MVP in the process. Nevertheless, with the Red Sox still firmly warming the basement floor in the AL East, they have an interesting trade chip in Adam Duvall that the Jays may want to take a look at.

Despite being out for a significant chunk of the season due to a fractured wrist, Duvall has been a productive hitter for the Red Sox during his limited action this season. For 2023, he has posted a solid .257 batting average and .850 OPS, with 17 runs scored, six home runs, 23 RBI, and two stolen bases in just 113 at-bats. Projected over a full season, Duvall would be averaging over 25 home runs and 100 RBI, which would be welcoming production in the Jays’ lineup anyday.

More importantly, if one would recall, Duvall was instrumental in being one of the key trade pieces that the Atlanta Braves acquired for their postseason run in 2021 that led to their first World Series championship since 1995. With his veteran postseason experience, along with his potential big boom with his bat, and the fact that he also bats right-handed, he would definitely be an ideal trade target for the Blue Jays. Just maybe this time, a trade with the Red Sox will make them return the favour in giving the Jays the player that can lead them to the Holy Grail.

Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

When one hears the name Andrew McCutchen, their first reaction may be “Golly, he’s still around in the league?” After all, it probably felt like he has been toying around in the league for over two decades. In actual fact, he is still only 36 at this moment, and appears to be still going on strong. Better yet, he seems rejuvenated in his return role to his former team this year.

In 2023, for a lowly Pittsburgh Pirates team, McCutchen has actually produced some surprisingly strong numbers across the board, with a .268 batting average and .808 OPS, with 38 runs scored, 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 28 RBI, nine stolen bases, along with cutting down his strikeout rate by a huge margin compared to his previous two years.

The former NL MVP right-handed hitting centerfielder appears to still have plenty in the tank. As he approaches the twilight of his career, he may be desperately looking for that one more chance at a World Series championship before calling it a career. In fact, he has never even made it beyond a Divisional Playoff Series in all of his 15 years in the major leagues. The Jays can help make his potential dream come true if they can take action to pursue this five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, and in doing so, possibly helping make their own dreams come true as well.

Randal Grichuk, Colorado Rockies

Talk about reunions, wouldn’t it be great if the Jays brought back one of the fan favourites in Randal Grichuk? As one would recall, he didn’t want to leave town, but was unfortunately traded away to the Colorado Rockies in early 2022 for Raimel Tapia and prospect Adrian Pinto. At the time, the Jays already had a stacked starting outfield of George Springer, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Tesoscar Hernández, so having a starter like Grichuk riding the bench seemed unfair and at the same time redundant in the Jays’ lineup. So bringing in Tapia provided a different speed element to the Jays’ game.

After the trade, Grichuk has had a couple of decent seasons with the Rockies, which somehow mirrored his offensive output numbers that he posted with the Jays in the prior years. One would have expected his power numbers to inflate at Coors Field due to the effect on balls because of its higher elevation and semi-arid air; however, it had not been the case. For 2023, his power numbers have actually decreased even more, as he has hit only four home runs and tallied just 21 RBI in 54 games, although he has hit for a better average (.294) compared to his career standard (.250).

But perhaps moving back to the right environment, one could expect Grichuk to reproduce his usual 20-homer, 65-RBI average output, and for the Jays, that would be more than enough for a bench power bat who can also make spot starts in the outfield for the ballclub when called upon, along with perhaps platooning with Brandon Belt at the DH spot. One thing is for sure, at least he will have a greater chance to make the postseason again than where he is at now.

Tommy Pham, New York Mets

As our expert has pointed out recently, Tommy Pham is definitely worth a flyer on in terms of potential outfield trade targets for the Jays. A ten-year MLB veteran, Pham has been a part of the postseason in three separate runs with three different teams in his career, posting elite numbers (.352 average, .931 OPS, with three home runs, six RBI and four stolen bases in 15 games).

For 2023 so far, Pham has still been productive despite a struggling New York Mets team. He has batted .277, with an OPS of .836, with 25 runs scored, 14 doubles, nine home runs, 34 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. With his previous stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox in the AL East, Pham will have familiarity with his divisional foes, which may be a valuable advantage for the Jays if they were to bring him back in the division. In addition, Pham will be looking to have another opportunity to make the postseason again as he nears the age of 36, as his motivation and drive for success joining a contending team would probably do both himself and the team wonders.

Hunter Renfroe, Los Angeles Angels

One target that has probably been not talked enough, but would be the ideal power bat for the Blue Jays is Hunter Renfroe of the Los Angeles Angels. At the prime age of 31, Renfroe has consistently provided strong offensive output throughout his career, averaging close to 30 home runs and 70 RBI per season. The right-handed hitting right fielder has continued to produce in 2023, with 15 home runs and 41 RBI so far in 83 games played for the Angels.

Interestingly despite such reliable production year after year, Renfroe has moved around and played for four different teams in the past four years. Which also means he probably wouldn’t mind moving once again this year, if the Jays are indeed in the hunt for Renfroe. With the recent potential long-term injury to Mike Trout with a broken hamate bone in his left hand, along with their current miserable stretch in July, it might be just enough to make the contending Angels sellers for the deadline, making Renfroe available for the Jays to pounce on.

Joc Pederson, San Francisco Giants

Finally, there’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 2019 Home Run Derby nemesis Joc Pederson to consider. If one could recall, Pederson was the one that endured in the epic semifinal battle with Guerrero in the Home Run Derby, matching him home run for home run and pushing him right to the limit with three swingoffs, until finally Guerrero prevailed. In doing so, Guerrero became too exhausted to have any fight left in him and ultimately lost out in the finals to Pete Alonso for the title.

Pederson is definitely the definition of a “power bat”, averaging close to 20-25 home runs and 65 RBI per season in his career. For 2023, he has hit .243 with an OPS of .802, with 33 runs scored, eight home runs and 30 RBI. Similar to Duvall, Pederson was also acquired by the Braves for their 2021 postseason run in which Pederson played a huge role in their success in the playoffs as well. So if the Jays miss out on Duvall, and the San Francisco Giants fall further down beyond playoff contention, Pederson would certainly be a wonderful backup plan to fall back on.

Each of these outfield trade targets have their pros and cons, but it is to the Jays’ best interest to at least explore these players as a potential solution to their offensive woes at times this year and help bolster their lineup for the long and treacherous playoff run in the coming two months.