Report: Blue Jays Considering Trading an Outfielder

[Leo Morgenstern]

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Blue Jays are considering trading one of their surplus outfielders for a reliever. Rosenthal and Sammon named Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and Joey Loperfido as the most likely trade chips.

Addison Barger, Davis Schneider, or even Daulton Varsho would bring back a stronger return, but that's precisely why the Jays would be less inclined to trade them. Varsho will be the everyday center fielder in 2026, while Barger and Schneider are promising bats with the flexibility to play both the infield and the outfield.

Rosenthal and Sammon's report shouldn't come as a surprise. The Jays have a bit of a logjam as it is on their outfield depth chart, and they're likely to add at least one more bat before the offseason is done. Speaking to reporters, including our own John Bonnes, at the Winter Meetings, manager John Schneider said he'd like the team to add "a bat of some sort."

Schneider also identified the arm barn as an area of need. He said that adding a "high-leverage bullpen arm" is a priority. So, it stands to reason that the team would look to solve two problems at once. GM Ross Atkins could clear up the outfield logjam and bolster the bullpen in one transaction. 

Of course, that doesn't mean the Blue Jays will be eager to part with any of their outfielders. Lukes and Straw were key contributors to last year's squad. They would be missed on the field and in the clubhouse. Trading Loperfido would mean selling low on a former top prospect. 

What's more, if Atkins is really hoping to land a high-leverage reliever, he would need to throw one or more prospects into a potential deal as well. 

So, what do Jays fans think of this rumour? Will the team trade an outfielder this winter, and if so, which one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Featured image courtesy of Kevin Sousa, Imagn Images.

View full rumor

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Leo Morgenstern said:

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Blue Jays are considering trading one of their surplus outfielders for a reliever. Rosenthal and Sammon named Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and Joey Loperfido as the most likely trade chips.

Addison Barger, Davis Schneider, or even Daulton Varsho would bring back a stronger return, but that's precisely why the Jays would be less inclined to trade them. Varsho will be the everyday center fielder in 2026, while Barger and Schneider are promising bats with the flexibility to play both the infield and the outfield.

Rosenthal and Sammon's report shouldn't come as a surprise. The Jays have a bit of a logjam as it is on their outfield depth chart, and they're likely to add at least one more bat before the offseason is done. Speaking to reporters, including our own John Bonnes, at the Winter Meetings, manager John Schneider said he'd like the team to add "a bat of some sort."

Schneider also identified the arm barn as an area of need. He said that adding a "high-leverage bullpen arm" is a priority. So, it stands to reason that the team would look to solve two problems at once. GM Ross Atkins could clear up the outfield logjam and bolster the bullpen in one transaction. 

Of course, that doesn't mean the Blue Jays will be eager to part with any of their outfielders. Lukes and Straw were key contributors to last year's squad. They would be missed on the field and in the clubhouse. Trading Loperfido would mean selling low on a former top prospect. 

What's more, if Atkins is really hoping to land a high-leverage reliever, he would need to throw one or more prospects into a potential deal as well. 

So, what do Jays fans think of this rumour? Will the team trade an outfielder this winter, and if so, which one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Featured image courtesy of Kevin Sousa, Imagn Images.

 

View full rumor

 

Didn't half this board see this possibility halfway through last season as something they should do in the offseason?

Honestly, big league boardroom experience and baseball industry respect aside, I feel like we could mostly competently run a big league org. 

Spanky for hitting coach. 

[Spanky__99]

40 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Didn't half this board see this possibility halfway through last season as something they should do in the offseason?

Honestly, big league boardroom experience and baseball industry respect aside, I feel like we could mostly competently run a big league org. 

Spanky for hitting coach. 

To The Moon Alice!!! I'd like to see Straw and that 7.5M contract be moved for a reliever in that $ realm.

[sliderguy35]

honestly shocked that loperfido isn't an Angel already, he seems exactly like their type + he can at least fake it out there in center while they figure out an actual solution.

would love to see the jays try and get bob steve back, he's unbelievably nasty (when healthy)

[John_Havok]

2 hours ago, sliderguy35 said:

honestly shocked that loperfido isn't an Angel already, he seems exactly like their type + he can at least fake it out there in center while they figure out an actual solution.

would love to see the jays try and get bob steve back, he's unbelievably nasty (when healthy)

The healthy part is really key though. 

 

[Spanky__99]

11 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

The healthy part is really key though. 

 

Clase for Steve. 😜

[GoBlue41]

I'm ok with those 3 as trade chips. I wanna keep the others and run it back unless they are part of some monumentally awesome trade that lands some certain 2B from Arizona or something...

[Joltin Joe]

13 hours ago, Leo Morgenstern said:

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Blue Jays are considering trading one of their surplus outfielders for a reliever. Rosenthal and Sammon named Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and Joey Loperfido as the most likely trade chips.

Addison Barger, Davis Schneider, or even Daulton Varsho would bring back a stronger return, but that's precisely why the Jays would be less inclined to trade them. Varsho will be the everyday center fielder in 2026, while Barger and Schneider are promising bats with the flexibility to play both the infield and the outfield.

Rosenthal and Sammon's report shouldn't come as a surprise. The Jays have a bit of a logjam as it is on their outfield depth chart, and they're likely to add at least one more bat before the offseason is done. Speaking to reporters, including our own John Bonnes, at the Winter Meetings, manager John Schneider said he'd like the team to add "a bat of some sort."

Schneider also identified the arm barn as an area of need. He said that adding a "high-leverage bullpen arm" is a priority. So, it stands to reason that the team would look to solve two problems at once. GM Ross Atkins could clear up the outfield logjam and bolster the bullpen in one transaction. 

Of course, that doesn't mean the Blue Jays will be eager to part with any of their outfielders. Lukes and Straw were key contributors to last year's squad. They would be missed on the field and in the clubhouse. Trading Loperfido would mean selling low on a former top prospect. 

What's more, if Atkins is really hoping to land a high-leverage reliever, he would need to throw one or more prospects into a potential deal as well. 

So, what do Jays fans think of this rumour? Will the team trade an outfielder this winter, and if so, which one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Featured image courtesy of Kevin Sousa, Imagn Images.

 

View full rumor

 

Should have traded Varsho for young starter.  Removes enough money can sign both Bo and Tucker. More money but team still under 300 million in '26.  Going to have to sign Varsho soon anyway. 

Took the money gave Ponch and fixed the bullpen. Somebody like Fairbanks. The starting rotation stays same caliber it is now. The bullpen is fixed and you added both Bo and Tucker. 

Straw is gold glove in center and Joey L. can play against some righties. 

[Orgfiller]

18 hours ago, sliderguy35 said:

honestly shocked that loperfido isn't an Angel already, he seems exactly like their type + he can at least fake it out there in center while they figure out an actual solution.

would love to see the jays try and get bob steve back, he's unbelievably nasty (when healthy)

Bit expensive for such an injury prone arm, no? Although that $2.5M club option for 2027 is very interesting. Wonder if his luxury tax hit when traded would account for the option having already been vested, and then effectively halve the AAV calculation.

[Brownie19]

Who is Bob Steve?  I'm lost.

[Orgfiller]

34 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Who is Bob Steve?  I'm lost.

Robert Stephenson. He's just beeing cheeky with the name: https://www.fangraphs.com/players/robert-stephenson/13594/stats?position=P

Pretty excellent stuff but just can't stay healthy.

[sliderguy35]

sorry, bob steve is robert stephenson lol

2 hours ago, Orgfiller said:

Bit expensive for such an injury prone arm, no? Although that $2.5M club option for 2027 is very interesting. Wonder if his luxury tax hit when traded would account for the option having already been vested, and then effectively halve the AAV calculation.

its probably objectively an overpay if you think of it as controllable outfielder for reliever, but the jays have like 4 guys (lukes / schreck / pinango / clase) that can serve that LH bench bat role so i don't really mind paying extra if its coming from an area where you have a surplus.

plus i don't think people realize how good robert stephenson has been since he changed his pitch mix with the rays. here's a list of pitching seasons with the highest swinging strike rate (that's % of total pitches that are swung on and missed) in the last 10 years (min 50 IP):

1. robert stephenson (2023) - 24.8%
2. edwin diaz (2022) - 24.7%
3. josh hader (2019) - 22.9%
4. jacob degrom (2020) - 21.6%
5. jacob degrom (2021) - 21.6% (he did this while walking 3% of hitters as a STARTING PITCHER lmao)
6. andres munoz (2022) - 21.6%
7. josh hader (2025) - 21.1%
8. mason miller (2025) - 21.1%
9. jacob degrom (2022) - 21.1%
10. josh hader (2021) - 21.1%

that's a pretty GD good list to be a part of. stephenson also had a 21.1% Swinging Strike rate in the 10 innings he pitched last year and he's never had a walk rate above 10% since he became a reliever in 2019. you take the injury risk for that kind of upside imo

[Spanky__99]

4 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

Who is Bob Steve?  I'm lost.

Robert Stephenson, friendo.