The Toronto Blue Jays went to Game 7 of the World Series last fall. They were two outs away from winning it all. Now? They’re staring at a 46-54 record and a last-place spot in the AL East. And according to a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the front office is ready to deal.
Outfielder Daulton Varsho is the name getting the most attention. Nightengale wrote Tuesday that the Blue Jays are likely to trade Varsho before the deadline. The team doesn’t want to wave the white flag, but the reality of their situation is hard to ignore. They’re sellers now, whether they like it or not.
Varsho is hitting .239 this season with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. He’s got 106 career homers and plays solid defense. That kind of production usually draws interest, and Nightengale says multiple teams have already checked in. The Blue Jays haven’t confirmed anything publicly, but the speculation is loud enough that it feels like a matter of when, not if.
And Varsho probably isn’t the only one going. Nightengale didn’t name names beyond Varsho, but the implication is clear: Toronto has several pieces that could be moved. The roster that came within a couple of outs of a title just a year ago is suddenly in rebuild mode.
It’s a brutal fall. The Blue Jays were one of the most hyped teams coming into the season. Fans were convinced this was the year they’d finish the job. Instead, they’ve been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball. Nothing has changed after the All-Star break either. They just lost two of three to the Chicago White Sox.
Toronto faces the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. They’ve dropped six of their last 10 games. The playoff odds are nearly dead. And now the trade rumors are only going to get louder.
Leave a Comment