The Toronto Blue Jays opened the second half of the season with a pair of wins. Now 57-41, Toronto enjoys a three-game lead on the New York Yankees. The Boston Red Sox dropping a pair also helps, as their lead stretching to fourth place is just five and a half games.
Regardless, this is a Blue Jays team that is hungry to get back to the World Series, with the trade deadline getting them to that next level.
Jeff Passan Expects the Toronto Blue Jays To Be the Trade Deadline’s Busiest Team
Other than the Detroit Tigers, no team in baseball has exceeded as many expectations as the Blue Jays. The Yankees thought they had the AL East on lock, but they quickly learned that Toronto is not a team to be messed with. The Blue Jays swept them in a four-game series from June 30-July 3 as part of a 10-game winning streak.
With a pair of dominant series win over the San Francisco Giants, another three-game battle with the Yankees awaits.
No one expects the Blue Jays to conduct a few trades prior to that series, but MLB insider Jeff Passan knows that they’re in the works as Toronto is ready to make some moves.
“Another team to watch is the Toronto Blue Jays, who surged to the top of the American League East with 25 wins in their last 38 games before the break,” Passan said. “They didn’t lavish Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with $500 million for nothing. They’ll do whatever it takes to augment the group around him.”
Potential Trade Candidates
Guerrero is currently hitting .275, which puts him fifth on the team. Most teams would dream of having someone hit that to lead the team, but the Blue Jays have tons of quality hitters.
“Josh Naylor needs to be in Toronto and playing for the Blue Jays.”@ErikKratz31 shares his opinion on the Blue Jays’ trade deadline and the best options that would ideally fit the team’s roster.#DBacks #LightsUpLetsGo pic.twitter.com/DpvxTJlyP9
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) July 8, 2025
If they were to add another bat, they would be unstoppable. Of course, one of the top bats at the deadline is Eugenio Suarez. Josh Naylor’s .291 batting average looks promising as Toronto looks at the lefty as well.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are going to sell in the coming weeks, with Toronto having their eyes on a potential package deal. Suarez may not land in Toronto, but Merrill Kelly very well could. Kelly has been linked to a few teams in the AL East, with the Blue Jays needing another strong arm to strengthen their rotation.
There are a few other key pitchers on the market, with Sandy Alcantara remaining an option. The Miami Marlins starter has struggled this season, as has Athletics’ Luis Severino. Neither of those options would be at the top of their priority list, but sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to get someone back on the right track.