BALTIMORE — Toronto Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider sank into a well-recognized padded chair forward of Monday’s sequence opener at Camden Yards. It was the identical leather-based seat with light wooden arms that he had perched on simply earlier than the 2024 commerce deadline.
Final 12 months, the supervisor watched from his workplace as Blue Jays veterans zipped by the open door, hoping to keep away from a career-changing chat. These conversations, informing gamers like Justin Turner and Yusei Kikuchi of trades, have been unavoidable final deadline. The crew arrived in Baltimore at 50-56, making ready to unload expiring contracts.
“The ambiance,” Schneider stated. “Everybody sort of knew the truth of it, but it surely was nonetheless somewhat bit tense.”
There’s no concern or stress within the Blue Jays clubhouse this 12 months. There shall be no mass selloff, with Toronto sitting at 63-44 regardless of an 11-4 loss to the Orioles on Monday.
The Blue Jays are aiming excessive on the 2025 deadline, stated a league supply, trying to inject expertise to a surging roster. They’ll look to fill key wants — leverage aid, rotation depth and yet one more bat — for the ultimate stretch to October. Listed below are some apparent and inconspicuous candidates to fill these wants forward of Thursday’s deadline:
The bullpen
The simplest place for a splashy addition is the again of the bullpen. Leverage aid choices are plentiful, and Toronto is in want, with Yimi García’s 2025 future unsure on account of an elbow difficulty.
Emmanuel Clase is off the market, because the Cleveland nearer has been positioned on non-disciplinary paid go away by means of the top of August amid Main League Baseball’s sports activities betting investigation. Minnesota’s Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran, who each personal elite strikeout weapons, stay accessible. The 30-year-old Jax, as Aaron Gleeman wrote Monday, is probably going the cheaper of the 2. Pittsburgh’s David Bednar and St. Louis’ Ryan Helsley characterize the subsequent tier of high-leverage choices.
There’s depth within the decrease tiers of the aid market this 12 months, too, with a number of set-up males and center relievers rattling off high seasons. The Jays, anticipated so as to add a number of relievers on the deadline, will possible commerce for at the least one from this vary. Minnesota lefty Danny Coulombe, a pending free agent, entered Monday with a 1.16 ERA and 1.96 FIP. Baltimore’s Andrew Kittredge is again to his profession norms after lacking the primary two months on account of a knee harm.
One other under-the-radar choice is Cardinals veteran Phil Maton, who constructed a decade-long profession as an unheralded center reliever. From 2017 by means of 2023, he owned an precisely league common ERA (4.25) and recorded only one save. However, quietly, since a 2024 deadline swap to the Mets, Maton has been probably the greatest right-handed relievers in MLB. His breaking pitches transfer greater than ever and he added a sinker to his pitch combine. Maton owns a 2.35 ERA this season, with the peripheral numbers of an elite nearer.
The rotation
Schneider stated he felt “actually good” about Toronto’s present beginning rotation forward of Monday’s loss in Baltimore. Max Scherzer’s thumb is seemingly a back-burner difficulty, Eric Lauer is dealing and Alek Manoah creeps nearer to MLB contributions.
If Joe Ryan or Sandy Alcantara stroll into Toronto’s clubhouse after the deadline, they’d have a rotation spot. However stability within the beginning 5 makes an optionable depth starter or swingman seem a neater match with the Jays.
The Athletics’ Jeffrey Springs, who’s began 57 video games and relieved in 110 all through his profession, is one apparent swingman choice. Steven Matz (Cardinals) and Sean Newcomb (Athletics) each personal a sub-four ERA this season, bouncing from the rotation to the bullpen.
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Ramón Laureano performs each corners and is on tempo for 23 homers regardless of partial enjoying time. (Patrick Smith / Getty Pictures)
The bats
Even with Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez closing in on large league returns, the Jays might use yet one more bat on the deadline. Anthony Santander stays weeks away from hitting on account of an early-season shoulder harm, and Toronto might goal a rental energy hitter to exchange his switch-hitting slug.
Baltimore’s Ramón Laureano, who homered in opposition to the Jays on Monday, brings an analogous skillset to Santander. He performs each outfield corners, hits left- and right-handed pitching and is on tempo for 23 homers regardless of partial enjoying time. Outfielders Taylor Ward (Angels), Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) and Adolis García (Rangers) provide related profiles when in peak kind.
Or, the Jays might shift from the power-based targets, swinging large for Cleveland’s Steven Kwan. With one of many league’s finest outfield arms and elite contact expertise, Kwan has been a well-above-average hitter in three of his 4 MLB seasons. Kwan is hitting .285 this 12 months with 111 hits in 99 video games.
The Guardians, as Will Sammon and Andrew Baggarly wrote on Sunday, are “notoriously arduous to strike offers,” in accordance with different executives. However the Jays, with loads of entrance workplace connections in Cleveland, have made it work in current seasons, buying Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin within the offseason most not too long ago.
George Springer exits on account of HBP
Springer left Monday’s ninth inning after he was struck within the head by a 96 mph fastball from Baltimore reliever Kade Strowd. After Toronto’s medical employees helped Springer to his toes, the veteran walked off the sphere below his personal energy.
“He’s doing all proper,” Schneider stated. “Type of acquired him within the shoulder, then the helmet. Fortunately he was in a position to flip somewhat bit, too.”
Springer met with Toronto’s medical doctors after the competition, and the crew will decide if additional testing is required.
(Prime photograph of Joe Ryan: Matt Krohn / Getty Pictures)
