Predicting where the top Blue Jays' trade candidates will land

With the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, the Toronto Blue Jays are very likely to be sellers. The players who seem most likely to be traded are pitchers Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber, as well as outfielder Daulton Varsho. All three of these Blue Jays are pending free agents and could be popular rental targets for contenders.

There could be plenty of suitors for each of these guys, but here's where we predict each of them will end up after the Aug. 3 deadline.

Kevin Gausman: Atlanta Braves

The Braves could be a team to keep a close eye on when it comes to Gausman. It is clear that they need to boost their pitching rotation, so it would not be surprising if they tried to land the Blue Jays starter.

If the Braves acquired Gausman, he could be a strong fit in the middle of their rotation as they look to go on a run this fall. The top of the rotation seems set with Chris Sale having another Cy Young caliber season. Behind him, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, Reynaldo López and Matin Pérez have had mixed success, and Gausman could be a guy that provides some stability. He is also a pitcher the Braves know well, as he played for them in 2018 and 2019.

Shane Bieber: Chicago Cubs

The Cubs would make sense as a landing spot for Bieber. Like the Braves, they need to strengthen their rotation before the playoffs. This is especially true when noting that the Cubs' pitchers have been dealing with injury trouble throughout this season. Shota Imanaga has been their best pitcher this year, while Matthew Boyd has been reliable when he's been able to pitch.

Bieber could slot nicely in the bottom half of the Cubs' rotation if acquired. Given how excellently he has been pitching lately, it would be understandable if Chicago made a big push for him now. Bieber has allowed just three runs on twelve hits over his last three starts (17.2 innings pitched) while tallying 13 strikeouts. He's allowed a .224 BABIP, with a 3.22 FIP over that span.

Daulton Varsho: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies need outfield help as they prepare for the playoffs and it would make a lot of sense if they struck a deal with the Blue Jays for Varsho.

While Varsho is having a down year for the Blue Jays in 2026, he could be a very good addition to the Phillies' roster. He certainly would have the potential to bounce back in Philadelphia and be a key part of their lineup. Keep in mind, just last season, the seven-year veteran hit an impressive 20 home runs in only 71 games for Toronto. With this, he could be a good fit on a Phillies club that is looking to win it all.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what the Blue Jays decide to do with these three top trade candidates from here.

Trading these players not the only option for the Blue Jays

It's also not out of the question that the Blue Jays end up hanging on to these players and finding a way to extend them before they become free agents. Considering how many question marks they have in the rotation going into next season, that wouldn't be the worst idea to keep either Gausman or Bieber around.

But if the market starts to get hot and the Blue Jays think they can get more value by moving these players, then they'll have to look at filling those holes in 2027 via other methods.

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