What Might A Blue Jays Selloff Look Like?
Featured Image Courtesy Of DaveMe Images. Prints Available For Purchase      It OK  you can start hating me for even mentioning this scenario  But after yesterdays game, the Blue Jays were 7.5 games out of the second AL Wild Card spot, with 5 teams they would have to beat to get there. It is possible that Toronto could go on a run between now and the July 30 trade deadline, but given the injury issues that the team has faced that is far from guaranteed. So imagine the scenario where, by the end of July, the Jays find themselves in a similar position  significant games out with 5+ teams to leapfrog. In that scenario, it might well behoove the Jays to take advantage of a trade market described as being in shambles with so few good starters available and shift their focus to 2022. Even if the Jays gave up on 2021, they would almost certainly still see themselves as contenders in 2022. So  barring a sweetheart deal  players with multiple years of team control would likely be off the table. Which means that the most likely candidates would be those players who would otherwise be free agents after 2021: Robbie Ray, Steven Matz, and Marcus Semien. It is of course possible that the Jays might extend any or all of these players before the trade deadline. In that event, they would likely not be moved. But if a Ray or a Semien indicated that they were not willing to extend (at anything less than a crazy-high price) then a trade might be the next best option. This is pure speculation of course, but the team with the lowest production (by WAR) from the shortstop position so far in 2021 is Oakland. (since Oakland is said to be <ahem> cash conscious) Oakland is currently leading the AL West, but the Astros are only a single game behind and the As might not relish the crap shoot of a wild card game. Regarding Ray and Matz, there are several teams who could be good fits. The Cubs are leading the NL Central, but only by a half-game over the Brewers. And the total WAR that the Cubs have earned from their starting pitchers so far this season is only 1.1  dead last among all 30 mlb teams. Matz 1.0 WAR or Rays 0.7 would add to that total nicely. And all 5 of the pitchers currently in the Cub rotation are right handers (Ray and Matz are lefties, of course). Alternatively, a team with a significant injury in their rotation might need an experienced backfill in a hurry. A contending team is unlikely to part with assets from their current team, so the answer would likely be prospects or bench players with upside. But as long as I am playing the scenario game, imagine the following. The Jays deal Marcus, Robbie and Steven, getting high-quality prospects in exchange. They add a few prospects of their own, or players who are not fundamental to 2022 (a Rowdy Tellez, for example) and trade the package for a young starter with multiple years of team control. Think Luis Castillo, or Germn Mrquez, or Jos Berros. They then use the innings made available by the departure of Ray and Matz to give some of the current young starters an extended look. Players like Hatch and Thornton and Kay (and hopefully Nate). With a good half-season of starts, the Jays would have a better understanding of what they have in these players  which would give them a better foundation for trade and free agent decisions in the off-season. Before the trade, Toronto would speak to all three of Marcus, Robbie and Steven to make it clear that the Jays value them and would like to be in the discussion when those players hit the free agent market this offseason (remember my assumption that none of these players are willing to sign an extension). Ideally, the Jays would be able to pull a Chapman (remember when the Yankees traded Chapman for Gleyber Torres, only to re-sign Chapmen that off-season?) with one or more of those players. The bottom line  It is possible that the Jays could find themselves sellers  in a sellers market  this trade deadline. If appropriately managed, this might give Toronto a chance to significantly enhance their team in 2022 and beyond. *Featured Image Courtesy Of DaveMe Images. Prints Available For Purchase. *****  HEAD ON OVER TO THE JAYS FROM THE COUCH VS ALS STORE AND GET SOME GREAT SWAG THAT YOU WILL LOOK GREAT IN AND YOU CAN FEEL GREAT ABOUT. YOU CAN ALSO HEAD TO OUR JAYS FROM THE COUCH VS ALS FUNDRAISING PAGE TO MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION DIRECTLY TO ALS CANADA. *****  THANK YOU FOR VISITING JAYS FROM THE COUCH! CHECK US OUT ON TWITTER @JAYSFROMCOUCH AND LIKE US FACEBOOK. BE SURE TO CATCH THE LATEST FROM JAYS FROM THE COUCH RADIO  * * * * *  Dont Miss The LIVE Streaming Of Our Podcast Every Monday At 6pmET. Tune In On YouTube Or Facebook. * * * * *