The Blue Jays' lack of depth is a serious concern

Potential Trades?

Trades to bolster the roster in May are rare. We can point to the May 2021 trade of Willy Adames and Trevor Richards of the Rays for Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen of the Brewers as a more recent example, but the Rays had uber prospect Wander Franco ready to take over for Adames at shortstop, and were willing to bolster their pitching in what at the time looked like an overpay.

And what trade chips do the Blue Jays have? Their surplus at 2B could mean that one (or both) of Santiago Espinal and/or Cavan Biggio are expendable, but they’d definitely be selling low given the rough starts both players have experienced so far in 2023, plus Espinal has right hamstring discomfort. They could also move White if he can return healthy and there are any takers, but the return is likely to be far less than what the Jays gave up for him at the trade deadline last year in Nick Frasso and Moises Brito.

Would a team like Kansas City or Oakland, who are already double-digit games back in the wild card race, consider moving pitchers to the Blue Jays? 30-year old Royals closer Scott Barlow will be a free agent after next season, 35-year old lefty Aroldis Chapman is on a one year deal, and Taylor Clarke just turned 30. Perhaps they don’t fit well with the rebuilding under way in Kansas City and could potentially be moved?

Or would Toronto want to bring back former Blue Jay Liam Hendriks, who is in the final year of his contract in Chicago as he continues his recovery from cancer? Or former Jays farmhand Zach Jackson from Oakland? He’s currently on the 15-day IL with a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow.