Blue Jays Trade Deadline: One target from EVERY non-contending team to pursue

NL East trade targets

Boy, oh boy, who could've predicted that the Mets of all teams would end up being in the "seller" category at this year's deadline? Not these guys. With such a stacked team from top to bottom, it's frankly pretty shocking that they sit at 37-46, 18.5 GB of the first-place Braves in the NL East.

• New York Mets - Tommy Pham

Starting pitcher Max Scherzer felt like a solid choice here, but he'd likely command a significant trade package to acquire him and he has a full no-trade clause that he'd have to waive in order to send him to the Blue Jays. So instead it's Pham, a power hitting outfielder who is a playing out a cheap, one-year deal and has miraculously turned things around at the dish after multiple years of so-so offense. In 61 games, the 35-year-old has nine home runs and 32 RBI, posting a .284 average and 138 OPS+, which would be his highest in a full season since all the way back in 2017. Bringing him aboard as a fourth outfielder with some thump in his bat makes a lot of sense.

• Washington Nationals - Kyle Finnegan

The Nationals are another horrible team with not a whole lot in the way of tradeable assets. Jeimer Candelario feels like one of the better players that will be floated in trade talks, but where are the Blue Jays supposed to play another third baseman with Matt Chapman around? No, instead, the Jays should target relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan, who has quietly been a very solid contributor at the back end of the Nationals' bullpen for years now. The 31-year-old is not set to hit free agency until after the 2025 season and has posted sub-4.00 ERAs and ERA+'s over 100 in each of the past four seasons, including 2023. Not to mention, he also has closing experience, which you can never have enough of to round out your bullpen.