Former MLB GM floats Vladdy trade package the Blue Jays would be foolish to turn down

With the Toronto Blue Jays off to a miserable start to their 2024 MLB season, they should really start considering anything on the table that could help the team to success in any way going forward. So if that means even doing a potential huge shakeup, then so be it.

One way to implement such a move is by trading away a key player from the current roster to send a message to everyone on the team that the organization is firmly committed to improving and winning, even if it required a huge sacrifice.

With that in mind, former MLB GM Jim Bowden, now also a columnist for The Athletic, recently came up with a big-time trade proposal (subscription required) involving one of the faces of the Jays franchise in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that could satisfy said huge shakeup. The trade transaction involved the Houston Astros and would go as follows:

Ever since his MVP-calibre season three years ago, Guerrero has failed to come close to reproducing those numbers for the past couple of seasons. Despite still providing solid production overall, many of the Jays’ faithful have been disappointed that he could no longer consistently perform at the level that he displayed during his 2021 season. Not helping his cause was the fact that Guerrero has been off to a slow start for 2024, hitting just .239 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI in 35 games, creating even more frustrations in the overall fanbase. So perhaps with a change of scenery where the main focus isn’t all on him is all that he needs to rediscover his previous dominant form. At the same time, any extension talks between Guerrero and the Jays has yet to pick up any steam, with his current contract set to expire in 2025. So if his future with the team is still in murky waters, a potential trade is certainly plausible.

For the key piece coming back in Joey Loperfido, the Jays would be getting an MLB-ready player with untapped potential waiting to be unearthed. Ranked sixth among the Astros top prospects list according to MLB Pipeline, Loperfido appears to be the real deal as he possesses the elite combination of both speed and power, along with the ability to play at first, second and all three outfield positions. He earned his promotion to the big leagues just recently as the Astros desperately needed offensive help at the first base position. At the time, Loperfido was leading the minor leagues with 13 home runs over 25 games during the month of April. On top of that, he is also coming off a year in which he was named the Astros’ Minor League Player of the Year when he batted .278 with an .880 OPS, 25 home runs and 78 RBI in 124 games played. For Loperfido to replace the likes of José Abreu and Jon Singleton on the current Astros roster, along with all the media hype he had received, it signalled the fact that he was ready for prime time. Moreover, his potent bat was indeed legit, as witnessed with his sweet swing below.

In the case for Kenedy Corona, he would help further bolster an area of need in the Jays’ organization, which is valuable outfield depth. For the No. 12 prospect on the Astros’ top prospects list, defense and speed is his main calling card, although his power potential has significantly improved over the past couple of years. Last season, he posted a .251 average with a .789 OPS, along with 22 home runs, 65 RBI and 32 stolen bases over 117 minor league games. Corona projects to be a potential 20-30 player when he reaches the major leagues and would serve as a solid starting outfield option or a strong fourth outfielder option if his bat potential doesn’t pan out.

So if the Jays continue to struggle and fall further out of the playoff race, they would be foolish not to consider such a trade proposal that could end up helping both clubs if the opportunity indeed presents itself. Guerrero would become a great supporting piece to the Astros’ offensive attack, whereas the Jays would get Guerrero’s immediate replacement that comes with added speed and position flexibility, together with a speedy prospect to help with their outfield situation as well. As a result, it would essentially be a franchise-altering move, but if things continue to remain stagnant, it may be the necessary blockbuster to get the Jays back on track in their eventual pursuit of a World Series title.