Blue Jays: 3 players Toronto should trade for not named Marcus Stroman
By Mark Powell
The Toronto Blue Jays have been connected to Marcus Stroman since the weekend, but it would be unwise to trade for him now.
The Blue Jays should avoid Marcus Stroman for several reasons. First, he insulted general manager Ross Atkins on his way out the door. Second, his value is far too high right now as a National League Cy Young contender.
Per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Jays have inquired about Stroman:
"“According to MLB sources, the Blue Jays are one of the teams that have expressed strong interest in what may be a Stroman sweepstakes by the last week of July. Both the Cubs and Jays have done their due diligence on the strength of each other’s farm systems. Stroman was drafted and promoted through the Blue Jays’ system before getting traded to the Mets during the 2019 season. He compiled a 47 -45 record with Toronto and a 3.76 ERA in six seasons.”"
Stroman has an opt-out after this season, and he’d be wise to use it as he’ll be one of the best starters on the free-agent market at this rate. To acquire Stro in a trade, though, the Blue Jays will have to part ways with some of their top prospects at the very least.
Here are a few players they can target instead.
Blue Jays rumors: Cardinals OF Tyler O’Neill is an easy trade target
Tyler O’Neill is from Canada, so it makes a lot of sense that he would play for the country’s only MLB team, the Toronto Blue Jays. Perhaps even better is that he is a rental bat — a right-handed one at that — which the Jays desperately need. O’Neill hasn’t proven capable at the plate this past season, but he has Gold Glove potential in the field and at the very least can play a vital role off the Toronto bench.
One look at the Toronto outfield suggests they are set at the position in Daulton Varsho, Kevin Kiermaier and George Springer. However, having more flexibility is never a bad thing. Springer and Kiermaier both have extensive injury histories.
O’Neill offers the Jays a right-handed bat off the bench and a two-time gold glover who can come in as a defensive replacement in the postseason. And given his contract and health concerns, the Jays can get him for cheap. What’s the catch?