Blue Jays trade targets: 5 players who could bolster Toronto's roster

The Toronto Blue Jays have a multitude of needs at the trade deadline.

General manager Ross Atkins identified starting pitching as an obvious one and that’s the top priority for the Jays. But beyond that, Toronto definitely needs an impact bat to bolster its hot-and-cold lineup, and another leverage reliever couldn’t hurt either.

The trading season is just beginning to flourish as many clubs are still debating whether or not to sell. However, it doesn’t require a crystal ball to predict which teams might sell big. The Cardinals, White Sox, and Cubs are among those who could mortgage their best players for draft capital.

Let’s zero in on a few early trade targets for the Blue Jays.

SP Jordan Montgomery: Cardinals

Acquiring Montgomery would be a best-case scenario for Toronto, and if the Cards start a fire sale, the lefty should be the first to go. He’s a free agent at season’s end, which zaps him of any long-term value in St. Louis and lowers the acquisition cost for contending teams.

Montgomery’s quietly been one of baseball’s most consistent pitchers lately. Since the beginning of 2021 (78 starts), he’s put up a clean 3.62 ERA with excellent strikeout (8.5 K/9) and home run numbers (1.0 HR/9). The 30-year-old is also familiar with pitching in the AL East and is used to switching teams at the trade deadline (he went from the Yankees to the Cardinals last July).

With Alek Manoah and Hyun Jin Ryu coming back, the Jays might not want to go this hard on a middle-of-the-rotation starter, but if the club changes course, Montgomery should be the top target.

3B Jeimer Candelario: Nationals

I honestly think Candelario is the best fit on the market for Toronto. The 29-year-old is having a career year at the dish (.804 OPS, 10 HRs). As a switch-hitter who can play corner infield, he would most likely serve as another DH option, alternating with Brandon Belt.

Candelario’s pedestrian exit velocity numbers suggest he might not sustain the .800 OPS clip, but that’s fine. The Blue Jays wouldn’t need him every day anyway. In a perfect world, Candelario would be the starting DH versus left-handers, even with a slash of .228/.311/.315 from the right side this year. That’s still better than Belt’s .417 OPS against southpaws.

I can’t imagine the Nats expecting much in return for the pending free agent. Toronto should take a chance on Candelario, who would make the bottom of the order much better for the final months of the season.

OF/1B Cody Bellinger: Cubs

Bellinger’s long been an excellent fit in the Blue Jays lineup, and he certainly comes with far more upside than a hitter like Candelario, for example. Having put ugly 2021 and 2022 campaigns behind him, Bellinger’s been consistent with Chicago this season, slashing .277/.336/.463 with seven homers, 22 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

There are a few obstacles to a deal for Bellinger. First, the Cubs have to commit to selling their best players. That's not a certainty, as a recent report suggested the club would wait until the end of July to make a decision. Bellinger’s name value might also make the price unrealistic. More importantly, however, the 27-year-old might be too similar to, say, Daulton Varsho for this fit to make sense.

Both Bellinger and Varsho are left-handed hitters with high strikeout numbers. They both have exploitable swings. Opposing pitchers could carve up a batting order with a trio of Bellinger, Varsho, and Cavan Biggio if all three hitters are running cold.

While Bellinger would instantly make the Blue Jays better, he might clog up the outfield and make lineups versus left-handers very difficult to arrange. That said, one injury — to Kevin Kiermaier, for example – could change it all. Keep an eye on the rumours around Bellinger.

SP/RP Michael Lorenzen: Tigers

If the Jays don’t attack the market for a Montgomery-type, then Lorenzen is a perfect alternative fit. The right-hander has swingman experience and has performed adequately as a full-time starter over the last two years (4.26 ERA, 97 ERA+). He’s a strike-thrower who, while possessing limited swing-and-miss stuff, has a strong track record of preventing homers — basically the opposite of Yusei Kikuchi.

Lorenzen, another pending free agent, started the year on the injured list but returned after the minimum 15 days. He’s been healthy since, and that’s a big deal for a guy with a heavy rap sheet of bumps and bruises.

Trading for Lorenzen isn’t a ground-breaking move, but the Tigers' lone All-Star selection might be a sneaky-good complementary piece on the Blue Jays roster.

RP Kyle Finnegan: Nationals

We ought to include at least one reliever on this list. The right-hander throws hard — the fastball averages 97 mph — but he also gets hit very hard, ranking among baseball’s worst in average exit velo. Still, despite his flaws, Finnegan’s been a wickedly consistent reliever with a 3.45 ERA in four full seasons.

Toronto likes to trade for controllable relief arms (Zach Pop, Adam Cimber, Trevor Richards), so the front office will love the fact that Finnegan isn’t a free agent until 2026. As far as bullpen help goes, the 31-year-old is one of the more reasonable targets on the market.