Blue Jays Trade Rumors: Vlad Jr. to Yankees?

Before the season, MLB odds tabbed the Toronto Blue Jays as a World Series contender. Sitting last in the American League East, the Blue Jays are enduring a greatly disappointing campaign. Instead of looking to add talent ahead of the trade deadline, Blue Jays trade rumours are focused on potentially becoming sellers.

While their baseball betting price to reach the postseason has lengthened considerably over the last few weeks, the Blue Jays are still only a few games off the final wild-card spot. Ross Atkins has time before he needs to make any decisions about buying or selling ahead of the deadline, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill.

Blue Jays Trade Rumors

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Traded to Yankees?

In 2022, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said he wouldn’t ever play for the New York Yankees. In April last year, he reaffirmed that sentiment, saying that it’s down to his family and he will never change the decision. 

With rumours rife that the Yankees could pursue Guerrero before the 2024 trade deadline, the All-Star first baseman appeared to soften his position. 

Speaking to Virus Deportivo, he said, “I’m a worker, professional, and I go out on the field and play. … Sometimes you say things – it’s not that I am trying to take back what I said about the Yankees, what do I say, I don’t hold back what I said about the Yankees – but this is a business. 

“I sat down and spoke with my dad and my family, and this is a business. … Like I tell you, I’m a player and if a team picks me or if they do something, it’s because they need it, obviously, and I’ll be happy to help any team. But right now, I’m just focused on helping my team try to get out of this bad streak.”

If I get trade to #Yankees I will do my job and try to help that team or any team to win. I’m a professional and love this game #VladimirGuerreroJr told Omar from Virus Deportivo pic.twitter.com/5rQ5a6APzr

— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) June 25, 2024

The Yankees have a clear need at first base. Anthony Rizzo is on the 60-day injured list with a broken arm, and the former Chicago Cub has been struggling at the plate. New York is 24th in wins above average from first base, and desperately needs to fortify its lineup around Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. 

The online sportsbook at BetMGM has the Yankees as American League favourites as of June 27. The Yankees are definite buyers, and have a weakness at first base. It’s still unclear if the Jays will move Guerrero, though, and they will be reluctant to trade him to a divisional rival. 

Toronto will need a real haul to consider trading Guerrero to the Yankees, but it’s very unlikely the Yankees will part with Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones. 

Bichette to Dodgers?

The Los Angeles Dodgers need a shortstop. Mookie Betts is on the injured list, and even before getting hurt, Betts was struggling at short. He ranks in the ninth percentile in outs above average, which could prompt the Dodgers to pursue a shortstop on the trade market. 

Bo Bichette is one name that has been linked with Los Angeles. Advanced metrics don’t love Bichette’s glove at short, and he’s having a down year offensively, sporting his worst xwOBA by a significant margin.

If the Jays make Bichette available as part of a retool, the Dodgers could offer one of their pitching prospects like Nick Frasso along with Gavin Lux and Diego Cartaya. Los Angeles would surely like to move on from Lux, and Cartaya is blocked at the major-league level by Will Smith. 

Cleveland Moves for Kikuchi?

The Cleveland Guardians’ rotation is 20th in FIP since the start of May. For the season, only the Oakland Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks have fewer wins above average from their starting pitchers.

Cleveland is without Shane Bieber for the season. Carlos Carrasco, Logan Allen, and Triston McKenzie are all struggling. Despite the poor performances from their starters, the Guardians are cruising atop the AL Central. 

There’s no question the Guardians will be in the mix for a starter or two before the trade deadline. Yusei Kikuchi is a perfect fit. Toronto should look to flip Kikuchi, who is a free agent at season’s end.

Kikuchi has a 3.89 xERA and the best walk rate of his career. Cleveland has a stacked farm system, and I would expect the Jays could land a couple of players with decent upside in return for Kikuchi. The Guardians have a good track record with improving pitchers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they upped Kikuchi’s changeup and curveball usage and tweaked his fastball. 

Cleveland will face competition if Kikuchi is made available. The Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers would both be good fits. 

Interest in Turner

Justin Turner, like Kikuchi, is a free agent at the end of the season. Turner owns a 106 OPS+ and has primarily been a designated hitter this season, but there will still be a market if the Jays opt to trade him. 

Turner has underperformed his xwOBA by 23 points. He can still play passable first base. The 12% walk rate is absolutely elite, he still doesn’t strike out often, and he’s got his best line drive rate since 2018.

Most contenders could do with adding a bat like Turner to their lineup. The Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, and New York Yankees are all in need, though the Yankees might not be too keen on the fit once Giancarlo Stanton returns from the injured list.