Blue Jays Roundup, Oct 29: Rule 5 Protection, Award Candidates, Grichuk Target

[Jays Centre]

Here is some of the latest Blue Jays analysis and history from around the internet. The roundup covers Rule 5 Draft protection for prospects like Nolan Perry and Gage Stanifer, lessons from the Brewers and Rays, award candidates including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Dylan Cease, the 2021 team's missed playoff chances, Randal Grichuk as a free agent target, and a look back at Juan Guzman's 1991 season.

• Who Must the Blue Jays Protect From the Rule 5 Draft? (Just Baseball). Notes the Blue Jays must protect key prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, highlighting Nolan Perry (2.32 ERA, 31 innings in 2026), Gage Stanifer (161 strikeouts in 2025), Josh Kasevich (.282/.364/.363 in 2026), and Daniel Guerra (12.29 K/9 in 2026) as top candidates due to their performance and potential.
• What can the Blue Jays learn from the Brewers and Rays this World Series? (MLB.com). Notes that the Blue Jays can learn from the Brewers and Rays by improving their ability to win in different ways, emphasizing the importance of walks, advanced baserunning, and developing multiple pitching stars, with the Brewers leading in walks (668) and stolen bases (162), and the Rays and Brewers both excelling in pitching development.
• Which Blue Jays could be up for award hardware? (MLB.com). Notes the Blue Jays' potential award candidates, highlighting Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s defensive performance, Andrés Giménez's Gold Glove pedigree, Nathan Lukes' underrated defense, Brandon Valenzuela's strong catching, and Dylan Cease's Cy Young-caliber season with a 2.40 ERA and 239 strikeouts.
• The 2021 Blue Jays deserved better (Blue Jays Nation). Looks back at the 2021 Toronto Blue Jays, arguing they had one of the best offenses in MLB history, hitting 262 home runs with a .311/.401/.601 line from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 45 home runs from Marcus Semien, and a 91-71 record, yet finished one game out of the playoffs due to injuries and bullpen struggles.
• Blue Jays free agent target: Randal Grichuk (Blue Jays Nation). Notes that the Blue Jays may reconsider signing Randal Grichuk as a free agent, citing his strong performance against left-handed pitchers, including a .319 batting average and 152 wRC+ in 2024, and the team's poor 2025 numbers against southpaws (.229/.298/.361, 85 wRC+).
• Happy Birthday Juan Guzman (Bluebird Banter). Looks back at Juan Guzman's 1991 season with the Blue Jays, noting his 10-3 record, 2.99 ERA, 123 strikeouts in 138.2 innings, and his role in the team's ALCS and World Series runs.