The Toronto Blue Jays are sitting at 42-48, 11.5 games back in the AL East and clinging to the edges of a Wild Card race that probably doesn’t love them back. After a World Series appearance in 2025, the idea of selling off parts in July feels like a tough pill for fans to swallow. But the bigger mistake would be pretending this team is one blockbuster away from another run.
This is not a buyer’s market for the Blue Jays. Not with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting four home runs in 85 games. Not with a rotation that’s missing Jose Berrios and Cody Ponce for the year, and Max Scherzer on the IL with another back issue. Patrick Corbin has been struggling. The bullpen is gassed. The math just doesn’t add up.
Why trading for Tarik Skubal makes zero sense
Sure, Skubal is the kind of arm that changes a rotation. But he’s a two or three month rental if the Tigers even make him available, and they’d want a haul from their farm system for him. Even if the Blue Jays pulled that off, it doesn’t get them over the top unless everything else suddenly clicks. That hasn’t happened all year. Counting on a second half power surge from Guerrero and an injury-free run from everyone else isn’t a strategy. It’s a hope.
Manager John Schneider basically said as much. We got to flip it,
he told The Athletic. It’s something we talk about, something we’re grinding on. But you got to go out and do it.
He pointed to Dalton Varsho, Alejandro Kirk, George Springer and Guerrero specifically. You need some more slug out of those guys,
Schneider said. They’re being pitched differently. You can’t let it fester.
A smarter play: the No. 5 spot and a low-risk arm
The Blue Jays have a top four of Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber. That’s fine when healthy. The No. 5 spot is where they can actually improve without gutting the future, according to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. Pick up a guy who gives you No. 3 or 4 production for a No. 5 price. Easier said than done, but if a team gets desperate, Toronto should be ready.
One name that fits: Jack Flaherty of the Tigers. He’s 2-8 with a 4.60 ERA but has 92 strikeouts in 76.1 innings. The bat missing is still there. He just threw 5.2 scoreless innings against someone, allowing three hits and striking out five. Jack was awesome today,
catcher Dillon Dingler said on Detroit SportsNet. His three starts before going on the IL were really good. He’s fine-tuning some things.
Detroit is likely more focused on getting a haul for Skubal. They might move Flaherty at a reasonable price. That’s the kind of deal the Blue Jays should be looking at. Something that fills a hole without costing a top prospect.
The core is still strong enough to make a real run next year. But that only works if they don’t mortgage 2027 for a shot that probably won’t connect in 2026. A minor move, a little patience, and a whole lot of Guerrero home runs in the second half. That’s the path.
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