Rays (Rasmussen) vs Blue Jays (Gausman): 7/21/26, 7:07pm

[jaysblue]

It doesn’t look like a particularly strong free-agent class, outside of the top names like Skubal, Peralta, Chisholm, and Arozarena. There could always be a few more interesting players added to the market depending on opt-outs or club options being declined.

The Jays will definitely try to run it back, but there are going to be a lot of holes on this roster to fill. Addressing all of them through free agency alone is going to get expensive quickly, so they’ll probably have to get creative on the trade market as well.

[jaysblue]

58 minutes ago, Bob_Gratton said:

You mean in 2028? The real question is: Which players in the actual roster you think should be here for building a team who can return in the WS? Honestly, they aren't many, beside Cease, Varland, Clement, Yesevage, Vlad (fixed) and maybe Rogers. All other's can easily be replaced or you can find better players to be in the starting lineup. 

C: Kirk / Valenzuela
1B: Vladdy
2B: Clement
SS: Gimenez
3B: Okamoto
LF: Lukes - needs a RHB platoon partner
CF: Open
RF: Barger
DH: Open or Santander?

+ bench spots: _______________

SP1: Cease
SP2: Yesavage
SP3: Ponce
SP4: Miles
SP5: Open

CL: Varland
RHP: Hoffman
RHP: Rogers
LHP: Fluharty
RHP: Fisher

+ other bullpen arms: _____________

[jaysblue]

Definitely need another top starter who can slot in right behind Cease. Ideally, they need a 4–5 WAR type of arm - someone who gives the rotation another legitimate front-end presence instead of just another mid-rotation piece.

SP depth is also huge, as we’ve seen. They probably need to add a few rubber-arm types who can eat innings, and maybe even roll the dice on some injured vets who might miss the first month or two, with the hope they rehab successfully and return mid-season.

If Varsho departs, CF becomes a major hole. I’d be fine bringing him back on a one-year deal if the AAV is reasonable, but if that happens, they still need to add an impact bat somewhere either in LF, DH, or both.

The bullpen should be easier to address, assuming they don’t trade Varland, Hoffman, or Rogers. If those three are still here, the late-inning foundation is already pretty solid. They could probably use another LHP to pair with Fluharty, but compared to the rotation and lineup, the bullpen feels more manageable.

[G-Snarls]

4 hours ago, Laika said:

They will certainly try to run it back next year so I can't see them trading Varland or Clement 

Keepers at the deadline. Either due to need or contract or health status or a combination thereof. 

 

Guerrero Jr

Kirk

Santander 

Clement 

Okamoto 

Barger 

Probably Gimenez 

 

Cease 

Yesavage 

Ponce 

 

Varland 

Rogers 

Plus maybe Miles and Fluharty 

 

 

[G-Snarls]

Jays likely selloff was the lead topic today on Power Alley on MLB Radio 

[John_Havok]

9 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Tough call on Varland, but you can always acquire a closer or high-end reliever in the offseason. As much as I’d hate trading him, the Jays definitely have to be open to it if the return is strong enough.

I think there would be a market for both Gausman and Bieber, especially Gausman. Any contender looking for a veteran starter with big-game experience would have to view him as a pretty nice add.

Hoffman and Rogers should have value too, but since both are still under control for next season, I could see the Jays keeping them around rather than creating another bullpen hole.

Clement would definitely have value, but I doubt they move him given his popularity and how useful he is. I’m not sure the return would be worth it either, unless a team really overpays.

Clement isn't the type of player a team acquires at the deadline for a stretch run unless someone just got hurt, and even then... light hitting utility IFs with good gloves don't generally return much.

The years of arb remaining do up his value a bit though to a team that actually has a hole they want to fill for more than half a season.

What team in the post-season for sure would pay up for Ernie to make moving him worth it?

[Laika]

8 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Clement isn't the type of player a team acquires at the deadline for a stretch run unless someone just got hurt, and even then... light hitting utility IFs with good gloves don't generally return much.

The years of arb remaining do up his value a bit though to a team that actually has a hole they want to fill for more than half a season.

What team in the post-season for sure would pay up for Ernie to make moving him worth it?

He is a consistent / elite contact bat who WAS a dynamo 3B last year and set playoff records. I think someone is going to really want him as their finishing touch. Could make a lot of sense on a team like the Brewers 

[glory]

We have a decade of history on Ross Atkins to know how he's going to approach this trade deadline. As a seller, he very rarely sells high on a controllable player. We're talking Joe Biagini, Aaron Sanchez, Roberto Osuna during a DV suspension, Nate Pearson after he had 'bust' tattooed on his forehead, etc, as the controllable players Atkins has moved at the deadline when selling. I guess trading IKF in 2024 is the one exception (selling high). History tells us that Atkins will want to contend next season, and swapping out the impending FA's for the Pinango's and Schreck's of the world, followed by signing free agents in the winter will be the strategy. I think at most we might see a Hoffman trade (seems like a change of scenery candidate given how last season ended and losing the closer role this year), but beyond that I'd be shocked if anyone controllable is moved. I guess Sanchez too, I forget he even exists, but might be more of a salary dump attempt than a trade to get any value. 

[Brownie19]

11 minutes ago, glory said:

We have a decade of history on Ross Atkins to know how he's going to approach this trade deadline. As a seller, he very rarely sells high on a controllable player. We're talking Joe Biagini, Aaron Sanchez, Roberto Osuna during a DV suspension, Nate Pearson after he had 'bust' tattooed on his forehead, etc, as the controllable players Atkins has moved at the deadline when selling. I guess trading IKF in 2024 is the one exception (selling high). History tells us that Atkins will want to contend next season, and swapping out the impending FA's for the Pinango's and Schreck's of the world, followed by signing free agents in the winter will be the strategy. I think at most we might see a Hoffman trade (seems like a change of scenery candidate given how last season ended and losing the closer role this year), but beyond that I'd be shocked if anyone controllable is moved. I guess Sanchez too, I forget he even exists, but might be more of a salary dump attempt than a trade to get any value. 

You're going to cite decisions Atkins made in 2016 to judge what he might do in 2026?  That's an interesting choice.

I generally agree that we don't have a lot of "value" to trade and thus we may not revamp the team via trade, but I think it's reasonable to suggest Atkins evaluates the situation at hand each year and makes independent decisions on the direction of the team.

 

[glory]

12 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

You're going to cite decisions Atkins made in 2016 to judge what he might do in 2026?  That's an interesting choice.

I generally agree that we don't have a lot of "value" to trade and thus we may not revamp the team via trade, but I think it's reasonable to suggest Atkins evaluates the situation at hand each year and makes independent decisions on the direction of the team.

 

Well, i have a suspicion that IKF was traded in 2024 with the luxury tax penalties in mind (trying to avoid repeater penalties...which they did), so maybe there's some hope that Atkins will sell a little bit more than I expect. I wouldn't bet on it, but if that forces him to be a bit more creative at the deadline, then I'm all for it. I'm just saying we have 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024 with Ross as a seller. He's typically not hard to predict based on that track record, but would love to be proven wrong.

[Laika]

It will be the same MO as the 2024 deadline. 

The chance for a splash is if they can a controllable CF but that's more likely an off-season move 

[hanton]

More Miles Straw pitching please, I like how he covers the infield too after he delivers the ball. 

3-way player.