The Toronto Blue Jays had high hopes to contend for a World Series championship in 2017. Instead, it looks like they are bound to miss the postseason altogether. A 2-11 start really put them in a tough position from the outset. While Toronto has fought its way back towards the .500 mark, its still 5.5 games back of the New York Yankees for top spot in the American League Central and two games back of a Wild Card spot with a number of teams in front of them. Management could decide to sell at the trade deadline in order to acquire assets for the future. Here is a look at the latest trade rumors involving the Blue Jays.
Marco Estrada To The Chicago Cubs
Marco Estrada has been excellent for Toronto since he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in 2014. However, Estrada is 33-years-old and he will be a free agent this summer. The Blue Jays own the oldest roster in the majors so it might make sense to move Estrada to a contender in order to get some valuable young pitching prospects in return. Estrada could provide a spark for a legitimate contender and there would be no shortage of teams looking to improve their starting pitching. One team that could be in the trade market is the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Jon Lester has been solid, but both Jake Arrieta and John Lackey have really struggled this season. If Chicago is interested in repeating they need to acquire another starter. Trading Estrada to the Cubs at the deadline might make a lot of sense for the Blue Jays.
Roberto Osuna To Washington
Osuna is a talented young closer that many fans likely consider a key part of the core roster in Toronto moving forward. However, relievers can be very unpredictable and it’s hard to gauge what Osuna’s long-term potential is in the closer role. The Blue Jays can receive a considerable return for their young reliever with a number of legitimate playoff contenders in dire need of bullpen help. The Washington Nationals could be the best fit. Washington is a legitimate World Series contender but will need to improve its bullpen in order to have a shot. The Nationals have plenty of quality trade chips that could convince the Blue Jays to trade Osuna to Washington at the trade deadline.
Josh Donaldson To The New York Yankees
A couple of years ago, Donaldson put on a show for Toronto baseball fans when he won the AL MVP award. However, he’s 31-years-old and he will be 33 when he becomes a free agent. Donaldson’s value is slowly declining and it doesn’t help that he has dealt with injuries. However, the Blue Jays could still land an incredible return for him if they decide to trade him now. The New York Yankees might be the perfect fit as a team in need of a third basemen that has plenty of young prospects that they could move. It seems like an inevitability that Toronto will have to rebuild but if they move Donaldson it could help accelerate the process. Donaldson’s window as an elite hitter could very well be closing. If the Blue Jays could deal him before the deadline they could get excellent value in return.
Prospects For Marcell Ozuna
The Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins linked up on a humongous trade a few years ago. Could another one be in the works? It all depends on where the Toronto Blue Jays stand at the end of the next 30 days. If they’re in contention, they might be on the phone with the Marlins trying to make something happen. If they’re sellers, they won’t be spending much time working on anything with the Marlins.
Rumors and reports suggest that the Marlins are going to be holding a fire sale. That means the likes of Dee Goron, Chris Yellich and Marcella Ozuna could be gone. Ozuna would sure look good in a Jays uniform. However, to get him, the Jays would surely have to give up prospects. Keep an eye on the Jays over the next month to see if this is in the works.
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