Should the Toronto Blue Jays go all-in at the trade deadline?
WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Long Ball, Postmedia's Rob Wong chats with Toronto Sun Blue Jays writer Rob Longley about what he thinks Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins could do ahead of the MLB trade deadline and what the team's biggest needs are.
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Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
All eyes on GM Ross Atkins as Blue Jays attempt to bolster roster on Thursday's deadline day
Reliever David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field on July 13, 2025 in Minneapolis. Photo by David Berding / Getty Images The Major League Baseball trade deadline of Thursday at 6 p.m. ET is shaping up as an arms race. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Blue Jays will be active with various names already being bandied about, whether it's a starter or by adding to a bullpen that welcomed pending free agent Seranthony Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in between games of a doubleheader. The righty faced his former team for the second game in a row on Wednesday in Toronto's 9-8 win, and had two strikeouts in his one inning on the mound. Toronto's bullpen, outside of Yariel Rodriguez, gave the Jays 4.1 scoreless innings in a much-needed victory with Brendon Little, Mason Fluharty, Braydon Fisher, Dominguez and Jeff Hoffman combining to record nine strikeouts, while yielding one hit and no runs. Given the amount of teams in need of bullpen depth, which includes the Blue Jays, the bidding will only intensify in the hours, even minutes, leading up to Thursday's deadline.. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Among the names being linked to the Jay are the likes of Pittsburgh's David Bednar and Dennis Santana, and Ryan Helsley of St. Louis. It would surprise many if the Jays don't add one, perhaps even two, bullpen arms. The Jays are also said to be in the market for a starting pitcher to bolster a staff that is not getting younger. A leadoff hitter won't hurt, with some believing Cleveland's Steven Kwan is high on the Jays' wish list. On Wednesday in Baltimore, Joey Loperfido hit leadoff for the Blue Jays. His first-inning single was part of his 3-for-5 day at the plate. He has been playing well since being called up from triple-A, and he may make a coveted trade piece if it brings back a quality arm. While the Jays were able to add a much-needed high-leverage reliever during their 4-4 road trip, they also lost Alejandro Kirk, who is expected to return from the seven-day concussion IL Sunday, George Springer, who was hit on the side of the head in the ninth inning of the series opener in Baltimore and did not play in any of the remaining three games, while Ernie Clement (wrist) and Loperfido (thumb) were dealing with issues. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Outfielder Daulton Varsho is expected to return Friday when the Jays open a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals, a key positional players who was last in the lineup on May 31 when he hurt his hamstring. It's safe to say the Jays will have a different look by the time Friday rolls around. What kind of look all depends on how aggressive the front office decides to approach the trade deadline. The acquisition of Dominguez did indicate the team is all in, knowing the lack of a dominant team in the American League. The current Blue Jays leadership has been known for being keen on acquiring pitchers with term. Dominguez, however, is a pending free agent. So far, so good as his value was highlighted in his two appearances against the Orioles. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Whether management is prepared to roll the dice with Hoffman as its closer will be determined Thursday. Late Wednesday, the Mets reportedly acquired reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants. In terms of relievers, Bednar seems to be one of the most coveted among the contending teams, with the asking price said to be a top-five prospect. Bednar's Pittsburgh teammate Mitch Keller, a starter, also has been mentioned in the trade chatter. A team to monitor is Cleveland, in light of Emmanuel Clase being placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a Major League Baseball investigation into sports betting. With their all-star closer unavailable, the Guardians are more likely to be aggressive sellers, hence the trade rumours surrounding Kwan and pitcher Shane Bieber. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Baseball's trade market, by all accounts, has more buyers than sellers, which only raises the asking price. Looking down the road and into the post-season, the Jays will be facing some elite left-handed starters, leading many to speculate a right-handed bat is also on Toronto's to-do list. The Jays have come this far, but to take that next step reinforcements are required. All the focus, then, will be on Thursday's trade deadline. The Jays, who do not play Thursday, return home with a 64-46 record. While the players will be off, it's up to the team's front office to be on point and swing for the fences, even if it means overpaying with the clear attention of making this edition of the club better. MLB Celebrity Wrestling Toronto & GTA Columnists
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Riding the hype': Fans paying a premium to see first-place Toronto Blue Jays
TORONTO – Heather Gardiner couldn't give her seats away. The Blue Jays owned a record under .500 back in the spring, and looked poised for another middling campaign with little playoff hope. Things then drastically turned around on the field. Toronto now sits first in the American League East. And tickets are a hot commodity — often at a hefty price. Getting into Rogers Centre to see Canada's only Major League Baseball team has quickly morphed into a costly endeavour this summer that has surprised some fans. A recent sold-out series against the New York Yankees saw the cheapest seats on resale sites going for more than $200 apiece, while a ticket in the 500 level for Friday's series-opener with the Kansas City Royals was in the neighbourhood of $80 as of Wednesday afternoon — more than double face value. Gardiner and her family have two season tickets near the visitors dugout. The tech consultant, who's had seats since Toronto's 2015 playoff run, sold most of her extras at cost to friends last season. After the Jays' underwhelming start to 2025, interest dropped to near zero. 'We were posting on social media three days before a game saying, 'We can't make it and if you want the tickets let me know and they're yours,'' Gardiner said. 'They were free and people weren't taking them.' Toronto's surge up the standings signalled a drastic shift across the ticket market. Fans can make purchases directly from the team through Ticketmaster, while the website also has verified resale options — usually at an inflated price — similar to other big-hitters like SeatGeek and StubHub when supply is scarce. Jagger Long, who runs Toronto-based resale website Karma Tickets, said a number of factors, including summer holidays, tourism and a winning team are contributing to the spikes. 'We're riding the hype of the Jays,' he said. 'People are spending the money. If they weren't, the prices would come down.' A multi-million dollar renovation of Rogers Centre that improved sightlines, added more bars, communal areas and other amenities has also raised the stakes, Long said. 'They've done a great job of turning it into more of a social event,' he said. That mainly happens in the common areas where general admission tickets — standing room, without a seat — can be purchased for a face value of roughly $20. But those tickets — along with blocks of seats in the 500s — are often snapped up by scalpers or fellow fans looking to make a quick buck, Long said. General admission seats for Toronto's opener against Kansas City were priced around $50 and up for resale Wednesday. 'People are watching the market,' said Long, who added website algorithms can boost prices automatically when tickets are at a premium. 'Even average fans, professional ticket sellers, part-time ticket sellers, they watch. They treat it like a part-time job or a full-time job.' The Jays said in a statement the club encourages fans to plan ahead and purchase tickets well in advance of games. The team noted there are plenty of seats available for series later in August and September. Long agreed getting tickets early is the best practice, but added scanning resale options for popular games can still garner good results. 'Jot down the price and then go back in a few days,' he said. 'If the prices haven't really moved, that's an indicator … you eventually might find a hidden gem.' The face value of Gardiner's tickets sit at just over $100 each per game. She hasn't looked to make a profit in the past, but sold for as much as $350 apiece for the Yankees series, and got $450 this weekend. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Prices for season-ticket holders jumped significantly following the Rogers Centre renovations. Gardiner said she knows a number of fellow fans — including some with tickets since Day 1 back in 1977 at Exhibition Stadium — who have gone that route to maintain their small pieces of baseball real estate. The financial calculus of attending Jays games aside, Gardiner said the energy at the ballpark is comparable to when she first bought in a decade ago. 'It's like being there in 2015,' she said. 'There was something different, and that's what it's feeling like in that building. 'Everyone keeps saying it's like a playoff game. It is electric.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Fans paying a premium to see first-place Blue Jays
TORONTO – Heather Gardiner couldn't give her seats away. The Blue Jays owned a record under .500 back in the spring, and looked poised for another middling campaign with little playoff hope. Things then drastically turned around on the field. Toronto now sits first in the American League East. And tickets are a hot commodity — often at a hefty price. Getting into Rogers Centre to see Canada's only Major League Baseball team has quickly morphed into a costly endeavour this summer that has surprised some fans. A recent sold-out series against the New York Yankees saw the cheapest seats on resale sites going for more than $200 apiece, while a ticket in the 500 level for Friday's series-opener with the Kansas City Royals was in the neighbourhood of $80 as of Wednesday afternoon — more than double face value. Story continues below advertisement Gardiner and her family have two season tickets near the visitors dugout. The tech consultant, who's had seats since Toronto's 2015 playoff run, sold most of her extras at cost to friends last season. After the Jays' underwhelming start to 2025, interest dropped to near zero. 'We were posting on social media three days before a game saying, 'We can't make it and if you want the tickets let me know and they're yours,'' Gardiner said. 'They were free and people weren't taking them.' Toronto's surge up the standings signalled a drastic shift across the ticket market. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Fans can make purchases directly from the team through Ticketmaster, while the website also has verified resale options — usually at an inflated price — similar to other big-hitters like SeatGeek and StubHub when supply is scarce. Story continues below advertisement Jagger Long, who runs Toronto-based resale website Karma Tickets, said a number of factors, including summer holidays, tourism and a winning team are contributing to the spikes. 'We're riding the hype of the Jays,' he said. 'People are spending the money. If they weren't, the prices would come down.' A multi-million dollar renovation of Rogers Centre that improved sightlines, added more bars, communal areas and other amenities has also raised the stakes, Long said. 'They've done a great job of turning it into more of a social event,' he said. That mainly happens in the common areas where general admission tickets — standing room, without a seat — can be purchased for a face value of roughly $20. But those tickets — along with blocks of seats in the 500s — are often snapped up by scalpers or fellow fans looking to make a quick buck, Long said. General admission seats for Toronto's opener against Kansas City were priced around $50 and up for resale Wednesday. 'People are watching the market,' said Long, who added website algorithms can boost prices automatically when tickets are at a premium. 'Even average fans, professional ticket sellers, part-time ticket sellers, they watch. They treat it like a part-time job or a full-time job.' The Jays said in a statement the club encourages fans to plan ahead and purchase tickets well in advance of games. The team noted there are plenty of seats available for series later in August and September. Story continues below advertisement Long agreed getting tickets early is the best practice, but added scanning resale options for popular games can still garner good results. 'Jot down the price and then go back in a few days,' he said. 'If the prices haven't really moved, that's an indicator … you eventually might find a hidden gem.' The face value of Gardiner's tickets sit at just over $100 each per game. She hasn't looked to make a profit in the past, but sold for as much as $350 apiece for the Yankees series, and got $450 this weekend. Prices for season-ticket holders jumped significantly following the Rogers Centre renovations. Gardiner said she knows a number of fellow fans — including some with tickets since Day 1 back in 1977 at Exhibition Stadium — who have gone that route to maintain their small pieces of baseball real estate. The financial calculus of attending Jays games aside, Gardiner said the energy at the ballpark is comparable to when she first bought in a decade ago. 'It's like being there in 2015,' she said. 'There was something different, and that's what it's feeling like in that building. 'Everyone keeps saying it's like a playoff game. It is electric.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. Story continues below advertisement
