The Toronto Blue Jays were supposed to be good this year. They won the pennant last season, and nobody figured they’d fall off a cliff. But here they are, sitting at 50-59, dead last in the AL East, and suddenly the trade deadline conversation has flipped. They might not be buyers after all. They might be sellers.
And if that happens, the Boston Red Sox could be in position to scoop up a familiar name.
George Springer grew up in Connecticut, about two hours from Fenway Park. According to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon, the Red Sox are a natural fit. Boston needs a right-handed bat, especially after Curtis Mead went down with a broken wrist. And Springer’s numbers at Fenway? He’s got a .940 OPS there across his career. That’s not nothing.
The Red Sox are riding a 15-game winning streak. That’s not a typo. They went from looking like also-rans to legitimate playoff contenders in a matter of weeks. Adding a veteran slugger like Springer could solidify their lineup down the stretch.
Springer’s having a weird season statistically. He’s hitting .234 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs through 79 games. The on-base percentage is .317, which is fine but not elite. He’s been primarily the designated hitter in Toronto, and if the Red Sox got him, he’d probably slide into that same role. Boston has been rotating guys through the DH spot all year. They haven’t had a steady presence there. Springer would change that.
Why Toronto might actually deal him
The Blue Jays aren’t just bad. They’re bad in a division that includes the Yankees and Orioles and Red Sox, all of whom are playing meaningful baseball. Toronto’s front office has to decide whether this roster can compete next season or if it’s time to retool. Trading Springer wouldn’t be a rebuild move so much as a reset move. He’s not cheap, and he’s not young. But a contender with an open DH spot and a need for right-handed pop would be interested.
Springer made some history against Boston earlier this year. Hit a monster home run at Fenway. The guy clearly likes that ballpark.
Divisional trades are always complicated. You don’t want to help a team you’ll face 19 times a year. But if the Blue Jays are really going into seller mode, they might not have the luxury of being picky about destinations. And the Red Sox have the prospect capital to get something done.
For now, it’s just noise. Trade rumors this time of year are about 80 percent speculation and 20 percent truth. But the pieces line up. And if Boston reaches the playoffs and Springer is mashing at Fenway in October, we’ll remember hearing about this one early.
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