MLB trade deadline: Blue Jays expected to be buyers as race to win AL East heats up

Hamilton Spectator

31-07-2025

The
MLB trade deadline
is at 6 p.m. today, and the
Blue Jays
are
expected to be buyers
.
Follow our live blog for rumours and trades involving the Jays and the rest of the league.
Toronto Blue Jays bench coach DeMarlo Hale during photo day from the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Spring training camp
The Blue Jays got swept in their Tuesday doubleheader in Baltimore and they've lost four in a row, but they've still got the best record in the American League and a four-game lead in the AL East. There is, quite literally, no need to panic.
Between games of the double-dip, they made their first deal of Trade Deadline Week, acquiring big-armed reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Orioles - he suited up for the O's in the opener and pitched for the Jays in the nightcap - but they're going to need to do some dealing over the next couple of days to plug the holes that are starting to pop open.
The ugly 16-4 loss in Tuesday's first game got the Jays to the two-thirds mark of the season, and when that happens, we go to associate manager DeMarlo Hale for a check-in, as we do after every third of every season. He offers his insight as to what's going on with a team that, when we spoke before Sunday's game in Detroit, had won an astonishing 21 of 26 games. Now it's 21 of 30.
Listen here now or at
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, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts Thursday afternoon. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can at
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.
The Blue Jays acquired pitcher Seranthony Domínguez from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.
BALTIMORE—The
Blue Jays
bullpen got further exposed by the Baltimore Orioles during Tuesday's doubleheader, so between games the division rivals got together and worked out a trade.
After a 16-4 loss to the Orioles in the opener, the Jays kicked off their trade deadline shopping spree by acquiring veteran reliever Seranthony Domínguez. In return, they parted with right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown, their
10th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline
.
Domínguez, a pending free agent, produced a 3.24 ERA in 41 2/3 innings for the Orioles this season. He had two saves, but has spent the majority of the year as the primary setup man for closer Félix Bautista.
The Jays are expected to use the 30-year-old right-hander in a similar role. He'll pitch alongside
Yariel Rodríguez
and Brendon Little in high-leverage situations, although the Jays are expected to continue adding bullpen arms prior to Thursday's 6 p.m. ET deadline, so that job description could still change.
'It's kind of crazy because I woke up today and came to play for the Orioles,' said Domínguez, who tossed a scoreless seventh inning for the Jays in the second game. 'After the first game I was sitting there hanging out with the guys. They called me and told me: Hey, we (did) a trade, go to the next dugout. That's something that (doesn't) happen a lot, but I'm happy for the opportunity I'm going to get here.'
Domínguez spent parts of six years with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to joining the Orioles midway through the 2024 season. He converted 28 saves for the Phillies, but also battled command issues, which continued with the Orioles. This season, he has been averaging a career-worst 5.2 walks per nine innings. The positive is that he is also averaging a career-high 11.7 strikeouts per nine.
It would be tempting to go all in to acquire an ace or another elite bat, Gregor Chisholm writes. So who might be available?
It would be tempting to go all in to acquire an ace or another elite bat, Gregor Chisholm writes. So who might be available?
Even though Domínguez is only under contract through October, the Jays were forced to pay a relatively steep cost. Watts-Brown,
a third-round pick in 2023
, was in the midst of a breakout season in the minors. The 23-year-old split this year between Class-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire with a 3.54 ERA and 115 strikeouts across 89 innings.
The cost is a testament to how many contenders are in the market for relievers, and how few non-contenders there are to give them up. The Jays know something about that after they
acquired Jonatan Clase last season from the Seattle Mariners
in exchange for Yimi García, and
Yohendrick Pinango
, their No. 8 prospect per Pipeline, from the Chicago Cubs for Nate Pearson.
'He's got really, really good stuff,' Jays manager John Schneider said of Domínguez, who has a 1.02 ERA in 17 2/3 post-season innings. 'He can miss bats, great fastball, great splitter. Moving forward, just excited to have him at the back end with a few other guys.'
Bullpen arms rarely come cheap this time of the year, and it was clear the Jays needed an upgrade. García remains out indefinitely with an elbow injury, while Little and, to a lesser extent, Rodríguez have been overworked during his absence. The Jays bullpen entered Tuesday night's 3-2 loss to the Orioles ranked 17th in the majors with a 3.94 ERA.
To make room for Domínguez on the 40-man roster, veteran Chad Green was designated for assignment.
Green should have been dealt at last year's deadline
, but the Jays hung onto him and his $10.5-million (U.S.) contract. That decision backfired when Green's late-season struggles carried into 2025. He has allowed 14 home runs, the most by any big-league reliever, while his minus-0.7 wins above replacement are the fewest.
The breaking point for the Jays came during Tuesday's first game, when Green allowed four runs and two homers in the lopsided defeat. He was cut loose between games, and once he clears waivers the former Yankees closer will be free to sign with any team of his choosing.
His spot in the bullpen now belongs to Domínguez.
'I knew I was probably going to get traded,' Domínguez said. 'I didn't know where. I came to the park and tried to do my best to help the Orioles win, and now I'm going to do the same with the Blue Jays.'
With one trade done, Jays general manager Ross Atkins has a couple more days to search for upgrades. His wish list likely includes two more relievers, potentially another starting pitcher and at least one right-handed bat. They also could be in need of a catcher if
Alejandro Kirk doesn't progress well from a concussion
. Kirk has been out since Saturday and the Jays have yet to release a timeline for his return.
The Jays have long been expected to be one of the most aggressive shoppers at this year's deadline. They haven't won a playoff game since 2016, and president Mark Shapiro's contract is set to expire later this year. Making a deep run through the post-season is the goal, so while Domínguez was the first domino to fall this week, he won't be the last.
Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez is likely to moved by the trade deadline Thursday.
The Blue Jays
have built the best record in the American League by being a very difficult team to play against, the last two games notwithstanding.
They play great defence, they pitch well, and while they're below average with just 114 home runs as a team heading into Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Orioles, they're tied for seventh in runs scored with an offence that leads the major leagues with a .264 batting average — eight points higher than the second-place Houston Astros — and .334 on-base percentage.
'This is a league where it's hard to string hits together, but that's kind of who we are,' said George Springer, who leads the team with 18 home runs, before the Jays left for Baltimore where
the outfielder was hit in the head by a Kade Strowd fastball Monday night
.
'That's what we do as a team. I think our style of game is just wear you down. I don't want to say hit you to death but just slowly but surely wear you down and then hopefully someone pops a homer.'
The Jays' gritty scrapitude has led to fewer strikeouts than any other team in the game and putting the ball in play puts a lots of pressure on opposing defences,
none of which take care of the baseball as well as they do
.
'We're not a fun team to play,' said starter Chris Bassitt. 'You see us playing small ball, you see us hit-and-run, you see us moving guys over, tagging up the right way. It's not the all-or-nothing home run ... it's literally a true collective group.'
But by the time the trade deadline rolls around at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, that might have to change.
It would be tempting to go all in to acquire an ace or another elite bat, Gregor Chisholm
One thing that's all but assured is the addition of Daulton Varsho to the Blue Jays' lineup, perhaps as early as this week. The Gold Glove centre-fielder is a badly missed sparkplug for the team and his return from
a hamstring injury suffered at the end of May
has been eagerly anticipated for weeks.
Varsho will change the dynamic, though. When he got hurt, his eight home runs (in just over a month) led the team but he hit just .207 with a .240 OBP and struck out in 31 per cent of his plate appearances, the highest rate of his career.
Adding one low-average, strikeout-prone bat might not tilt the scales that much, but the Jays need to be looking for power at the deadline, and the best fit is
Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suárez,
who is a sure bet to be moved by Thursday.
The 34-year-old is a free agent at the end of the season, so Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins will have to swallow hard to acquire him, given that the Diamondbacks' asking price will be much higher than the Jays' brass is generally willing to pay for a rental. But the 12-year veteran is not only a strong defender at the hot corner, he has also posted an .898 OPS so far this season, with 36 home runs — topped only by Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani — and shares the major-league lead with 87 RBIs.
Suarez would slot in at third base every day, leaving Addison Barger in right field and allowing Ernie Clement, who has posted just a .560 OPS against right-handed pitchers, to share time at second base with Andrés Giménez when the three-time Gold Glover returns from an ankle injury in early-to-mid August.
As much fun as it has been to watch the relentless Jays offence, they need to add some thump.
Home runs play in the post-season, with nearly every playoff series being won by the team that hits more round-trippers. That's because it's hard to string together a bunch of hits against the calibre of pitching that you see in the post-season.
While the Jays have had nine separate innings in which they've scored at least four runs in their first 11 games since the all-star break, six of those innings have not included a home run. That doesn't seem to be a recipe for post-season success, though the manager believes otherwise.
'I think contact becomes a big premium when you're facing guys with big-time stuff,' said John Schneider before the Jays were
shut out over six innings by Cy Young favourite Tarik Skubal on Saturday before getting to the Tigers' bullpen for a 6-1 win.
'I feel like sometimes when pitchers are big strikeout pitchers and they don't really get that result, it affects their cadence of their outing. Not that it frustrates them, but it's probably a different feel. I think when you're facing really good pitchers you have to put the ball in play, you have to hit mistake pitches and you have to run the bases well.'
Varsho does two of those three things very well and even if he and whatever slugging bat the Jays acquire, should they bring one in (and they really should), will lower the team's batting average, increase the strikeouts and make those long innings of stringing five or six hits together more rare, it'll be worth it.
Because there will be a few more game-changing swings added, as well. Maybe even in October.
Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan might be the catch of the trade deadline if he is available, but that's a pretty big if.
BALTIMORE—A year ago, the
Blue Jays
arrived in Baltimore navigating what would become one of the biggest trade-deadline purges in franchise history. They returned on Monday as one of Major League Baseball's most aggressive shoppers.
The Jays dealt
left-hander Yusei Kikuchi
to Houston for a package of prospects on July 29 last year. Earlier in the week, they traded relievers
Yimi Garcia
and Nate Pearson, catcher
Danny Jansen
and designated hitter Justin Turner. More moves followed.
It was a spot nobody in the organization wanted to be in. So prospects close to the majors were prioritized with the purpose of retooling and contending the following season. At the time, that notion seemed far-fetched, but the Jays entered this series against the Orioles with a Major League baseball-leading 63-43 record.
'Sitting in this exact chair last year, was not fun,' Jays manager John Schneider said for Oriole Park. ' It's way more fun this year. Everyone kind of knew the reality of (2024), but it was still a little bit tense.'
It's stressful this year too, but for different reasons. The Jays are expected to make at least a couple additions this week and that leads to excitement from the majority of the clubhouse, and apprehension from those whose jobs might not be secure.
If the Jays target a starting pitcher, it would have to be a front-line piece or someone with multiple years of club control. The Jays already have a competent staff in the form of Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer, with the injured Alek Manoah expected to return at some point in August.
The issue is that there aren't a lot of high-end guys available. Minnesota right-hander Joe Ryan will be difficult to pry away from Minnesota. Veteran Seth Lugo just re-upped with Kansas City. Washington is reportedly seeking a king's ransom for lefty Mackenzie Gore.
Guest: Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Schneider
The more readily available arms don't move the needle. Zac Gallen has struggled for Arizona, although teammate Merrill Kelly could still be an option. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara hasn't been himself since elbow surgery. Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller is signed through 2028, but he might not be much better than what the Jays already have.
Top prospects Arjun Nimmala and Trey Yesavage, possibly even arms like Khal Stephen and Kendry Rojas, shouldn't be moved in those deals. But if the Jays can turn a package of Alan Roden, Orelvis Martinez and Yohendrick Panago into someone like Miami's Edward Cabrera (4-4, 3.48 ERA), as suggested by FanGraphs on Monday, it's something they would have to consider.
'I feel really good about them, you know what you're going to get,' Schneider said of his current starters. 'They're reliable, they're veterans, they're durable, knock on wood. (We're) pretty happy with that group.'
Acquiring at least a couple arms for the bullpen appears more certain. Atkins has acquired relievers at the deadline in every season the Jays have been contenders. Unfortunately, Seattle, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati, the New York Yankees, Detroit and Philadelphia are among those trying to do the same.
One big bullpen arm came off the board on Monday when Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on paid leave as part of a betting investigation.
But there are plenty of other big names. St. Louis's Ryan Helsley, who is a pending free agent, appears to be a perfect fit. It was only a couple years ago that the Jays acquired setup man Jordan Hicks from the Cardinals in a deadline deal. Pittsburgh's David Bednar, Atlanta's Raisel Iglesias, Los Angeles' Kenley Jansen and Tampa Bay's Pete Fairbanks are among the other closers rumoured to be available.
Minnesota's Jhoan Duran and Sacramento's Mason Miller could move, too, but with multiple years of control remaining they won't be cheap.
Toronto clinched season series with Yankees and Tigers while taking over the top spot in Major
The position player market isn't as enticing. Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez is by far the best bat available. After that the talent dries up quickly unless the Guardians decide to move outfielder Steven Kwan or another team makes a surprise move.
From a Jays perspective, it would be tempting to go all in to acquire an ace or another elite bat. Assuming neither is attainable, it would be wise to use lower-level prospects and fringe major-leaguers to beef up the bullpen instead.
With nearly two-thirds of the league still believing they have a shot at the playoffs, this a seller's market. The Jays benefitted from a similar situation last year. This week, they get to feel what it's like to be on the other side.
Chicago White Sox's Austin Slater runs after hitting a one-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Chicago, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Seattle Mariners acquired slugger Eugenio Suárez, the Philadelphia Phillies dealt for hard-throwing reliever Jhoan Durán and identical twin relievers Tyler and Taylor Rogers got traded on the same day, capping a busy Wednesday as the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches on Thursday.
Suárez — who had 36 homers and 87 RBIs this season for the Arizona Diamondbacks — was widely considered one of the top prizes of the trade deadline. A person familiar with the transaction confirmed it to The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced.
The 34-year-old Suárez spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Mariners, hitting 53 homers.
The 27-year-old Durán has a 2.01 ERA and 16 saves this season, striking out 53 over 49 1/3 innings for the Minnesota Twins. The Phillies gave up two top prospects, catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel.
Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley are headed to
the New York Mets
, who are fighting for first place in the NL East with the Phillies. The accomplished relievers join Edwin Díaz in the bullpen to give the Mets multiple late-inning options.
The durable Rogers — who has a distinctive submarine delivery — has made 53 appearances this season with a 1.80 ERA, four walks and 38 strikeouts for the San Francisco Giants. The Mets sent the Giants right-handers José Buttó and Blade Tidwell, along with outfielder Drew Gilbert.
Helsley has a 3.00 ERA, 21 saves and 41 strikeouts over 36 innings this year for the St. Louis Cardinals, where he's spent the past seven seasons. New York dealt St. Louis three minor leaguers, including infielder Jesus Baez and right-handers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt.
Even after Suarez was dealt, many of the trade deadline's biggest names remained on the market, setting up a potentially fascinating 24 hours.
Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller and Cleveland outfielder Steven Kwan were
among the potential season-altering additions that teams were pursuing
ahead of Thursday's 6 p.m. EDT deadline.
In other moves Wednesday, the New York Yankees added veteran outfielder Austin Slater, the Cincinnati Reds acquired Gold Glove third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes and the Chicago Cubs traded for right-handed starter Michael Soroka.
The 32-year-old Slater
gives the Yankees a dependable right-handed batter
for the final two months of the season. He's hit .236 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 51 games with the White Sox this season and has an .859 OPS against left-handed pitching.
The White Sox acquired minor league pitching prospect Gage Ziehl in the trade.
The Reds
acquired Hayes from the Pirates
in exchange for Taylor Rogers, who unlike his brother throws lefty — and overhand. Pittsburgh also got shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura and cash from Cincinnati.
The swap gives the Reds an elite defender at third with a manageable contract. The 28-year-old Hayes, a Gold Glove winner in 2023, has four-plus years left
on the extension he signed
with Pittsburgh in 2022.
He will make $7 million in 2026 and 2027 and $8 million in 2028 and 2029, with a club option for $12 million in 2030. He's hitting .236 with two home runs and 36 RBIs this season.
The 27-year-old Soroka is off to Chicago,
a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press
. He was an All-Star in 2019 and has 3-8 record with a 4.87 ERA for the Washington Nationals this season.
Washington received two minor leaguers — infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin.
Suárez returned to the Diamondbacks' lineup on Wednesday and went 1 for 4, two days after an injury scare. The slugger was hit on the right index finger by a pitch against the Detroit Tigers on Monday.
The D-backs have turned into sellers at the deadline after dropping eight of their last nine games and falling to 51-58. Right-handed pitchers Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen are among the other Arizona players who could be dealt.
In other moves on Wednesday:
— The Red Sox acquired lefty Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for minor league first baseman Blaze Jordan.
— The Reds traded for right-hander Zach Littell from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-way deal involving the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays.
— The Los Angeles Angels acquired relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García from the Nationals for left-hander Jake Eder and minor league first baseman Sam Brown.
— The Atlanta Braves acquired veteran reliever Tyler Kinley from the Colorado Rockies for minor league pitcher Austin Smith.
— The Seattle Mariners agreed to add left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving their bullpen another arm as they make a playoff push. The Pirates received right-handed pitching prospect Jeter Martinez.
___
AP Baseball Writers Jay Cohen and Mike Fitzpatrick, and AP Sports Writers Will Graves, Ben Nuckols and Greg Beacham, contributed to this report.
___
AP MLB:
https://apnews.com/hub/mlb