According to a recent report from The Athletic, the Toronto Blue Jays could deal from a surprising portion of their roster: The outfield.
One way for the Blue Jays to add a reliever is by trading one of their lesser outfielders, an option they are considering, according to people briefed on their plans. Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw and Joey Loperfido all would be possibilities to move, along with a few others.
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Now Lukes, Straw and Loperfido aren’t going to bring back an elite reliever, but Toronto is certainly in the market to lengthen and deepen its bullpen in general, especially after advancing all the way to Game 7 of the World Series.
First and foremost, all the conversation surrounding a roster surplus in Toronto has come in the form of pitching. After signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, Jose Berrios and Eric Lauer figure to be headed to the bullpen, and both are trade candidates, at least to some degree.
Other squeezed-out starters could also be dealt, including Bowden Francis and Adam Macko, as well as reliever Yariel Rodriguez, who was recently outrighted.
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We hadn’t heard much of anything regarding possible outfield trades until this.
There’s been a lot of scuttle about the Blue Jays signing Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker, but they haven’t done it as of now. Regardless, there is still a bit of glut, even without those moves. So a trade could make sense.
For now, Toronto figures to have Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger and one of George Springer and Anthony Santander in the outfield. If Tucker or Bellinger is signed, Barger would likely move to third base. Lukes figures to get significant playing time as well, but there isn’t as much playing time available for Straw or Loperfido, though Straw is said to be a great clubhouse presence.
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The report says that they are on the lookout for more pitching, even after their recent moves. The winter meetings effectively end on Wednesday night with everyone clearing out on Thursday. The Rule-5 Draft will take place on Wednesday, but the Jays are not expected to bring anyone in on that front.
Once the meetings end, the offseason will go back to its slower pace. We could see some deals done before the Christmas holiday, but if things don’t happen by then, it’s likely that we’ll have to wait until early January to start to see meaningful traction.
Spring training begins in mid-February.
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