The three players on "likely trade list" Blue Jays should prioritize this offseason

As the Toronto Blue Jays prepare to enter the final month of the season in a better position than most thought they’d be in, it’s not too soon to look ahead to the offseason and find some enticing options that may be available via the trade market.

Bleacher Report recently published an article titled 10 MLB All-Stars most likely to be traded in 2025-26 offseason, which features many of the big-name players who weren’t moved at the July 31 trade deadline, but may find themselves in a change of scenery next season. Here are three of the best fits for the Blue Jays from that writing.

Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Miami Marlins

Alcantara hasn’t been able to duplicate his sublime 2022 season, when he led the National League in innings pitched (228.2), complete games (six), pitcher bWAR (8.0), on his way to winning the Cy Young award. The 6’5” righthander’s ERA swelled to 4.14 in 2023 and has ballooned to over six this season. The underlying numbers tell a different story, and he still has a chance to be an incredibly valuable addition at the right price.

Alcantara’s salary of $17.3M (with a $21M club option for 2027) next season may not seem like a bargain, but it is for an ace-level pitcher. Now, whether he’s still considered ace material could be debatable, but his FIP this season is 3.84, much lower than his 4.55 mark in 2019 when he was named an All-Star for the first time.

That was on a 100-plus loss Marlins team, but it marked a significant step in Alcantara’s career. He’s got great potential as a “buy-low” candidate, and Miami, with MLB’s lowest payroll, may be eager to get him off their books.

Steven Kwan, LF, Cleveland Guardians

Kwan became one of the buzzier names to be shopped at the deadline, although Cleveland ended up holding on to the three-time Gold Glove winner. As they did with Andrés Giménez last year, the Guardians’ front office will be keen to get a return on the two-time All-Star before his salary is bound to jump up in his first season of arbitration eligibility in 2026.     

As one of the most skilled contact hitters in the majors, Kwan would fit seamlessly into the Blue Jays' offense, and his defense has been stalwart in left field as well. He isn’t a bopper by any means, but has managed to get into the double digits in home runs over the last two years, with a career-high 14 last season.

Adding another left-handed hitter to an outfield that already includes Daulton Varsho and Addison Barger may seem redundant. Still, they all have different skill sets, and you can never have enough quality hitters. 

Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins

Trading for the oft-injured Buxton and adding him to an outfield that also includes the injury-prone George Springer and Daulton Varsho may seem risky, but the front office could be compelled to think outside the box this winter. Springer will be entering the final season of the six-year, $150M contract he signed before the 2021 campaign, and could be included in a potential trade for Buxton, who would have to agree to waive his full no-trade clause to be dealt.

He may be more willing to cede control of his fate, given the lack of familiar faces in the Twins dugout after a fire sale that stripped 10 players from the small-market club last month. Buxton is in the midst of his best season, and, like Springer, could benefit from a shift to one of the corner outfield spots, as well as being a regular in the DH rotation. He’d also offer plenty of lineup protection for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and others, and could turn the Blue Jays into a top-10 power-hitting team.