MLB insider shockingly ties Blue Jays to best-available outfielder at 2024 trade deadline

With less than two months until the MLB trade deadline, Toronto Blue Jays fans are wondering which way the front office is leaning in its deadline approach. Will this confounding Blue Jays team start selling off assets, or will they make a push and try to wheel and deal their way into the postseason?

At least one MLB insider thinks the Jays will be buyers leading up to the July 30 trade deadline. While that could be a surprising take in and of itself, who the Jays are connected to is downright jaw-dropping.

MLB insider shockingly ties Blue Jays to best-available outfielder at 2024 trade deadline

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman claims that Toronto is one of at least six suitors for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who is predicted to be one of the most sought-after players on the trade market this summer.

During his live appearance on Bleacher Report's Walk-Off on Wednesday, Heyman listed the Jays as one of three American League clubs, along with the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners who are suitors for the 26-year-old. He also threw the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves from the NL into the mix.

Robert, who recently came off the injured list, has a tantalizing combination of speed and power but has had difficulty staying healthy during his five years in the majors. In a full 2023 season, he slashed .264/.315/.542 with 38 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 595 plate appearances.

This year, he's only hitting .196 but has a .554 slugging percentage and has mashed six homers in just 15 games.

While adding a player of Robert's caliber at the trade deadline would be a shocking turn of events, it would be gladly welcomed by the players and fans in Toronto. The question is really about whether the Blue Jays will be buyers. They have a tough schedule ahead of them that will likely determine the direction.

Now at 33-35 after losing their series with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Blue Jays are going to have to go on a run to convince general manager Ross Atkins that they can compete for a Wild Card — they’re 3.0 games back of the final playoff spot after Wednesday's loss.

Atkins has already said that the notion of trading cornerstones Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesn't make any sense, although plans can change and certainly will over the next couple of months.

Unsurprisingly, Heyman slightly walked back his original statement, or rather, clarified it, calling the teams he listed as "potential" suitors that make sense to him. What does Heyman know about the looming Blue Jays' trade deadline decisions? Apparently, not much more than anyone else.

Even if Toronto buys at the deadline, landing Robert seems farfetched, especially if they're competing with the top legitimate World Series contenders like the Dodgers and Phillies.