Insider Lists 6 Blue Jays Expected to be Traded

If the Toronto Blue Jays continue to wallow around in the depths of the American League East a month from now as we approach the trade deadline, several players will be put up for auction.

That's the word from Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith. The team is stuck at 35-39 and tied for last place.

if the Blue Jays are still four games under at the deadline, I'd expect Kikuchi and Garcia to be traded. Jansen could go. And perhaps Chad Green, Turner, KK. Players with more control would be harder to obtain, especially Bo & Vlad who both very likely stay in Toronto https://t.co/y2SxrcntF4
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) June 20, 2024

Nicholson-Smith lists the following six players who could be dealt:

Yusei Kikuchi
Yimi Garcia
Danny Jansen
Chad Green
Justin Turner
Kevin Kiermaier

All six are set to become free agents at the end of the season.

However, when he was asked if there are any "untouchables" on the team, his response was an interesting one: "Good question, and for the first time in a while I'd say no there's not."

Yet, he also says that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette "very likely will not" be dealt, as they still have another year of team control left. And really, would the team let a GM who is, at best, a question mark to return next year conduct trades of such important assets?

The three pitchers and Jansen will be in high demand, as teams are constantly looking for pitching at the trade deadline, and a catcher who can deliver any kind of offence.

Kikuchi is having his second straight solid season in the Jays rotation, with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP to go along with an impressive 83:19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. And oh yes, he's a lefty, always in great demand.

Garcia and Green have both been dominant at the back end of the Toronto bullpen, each with WHIPs well below 1.00 and exceptionally low ERAs with masterful K:BB ratios.

Jansen, though once again dealing with injury issues this season, has delivered at the plate well for a catcher.

What's left in the 39-year-old Turner's bat is anyone's guess at this point. He has just one home run in the last four weeks.

Kiermaier is having a dreadful year at the plate batting just .192, but he can still go get it in the outfield and could serve as a depth piece for a team looking for speed and defence off the bench.