The Toronto Blue Jays have already been one of the major players this offseason. While Shane Bieber chose to take the option year on his contract, and spend the 2026 season with the Blue Jays, Toronto didn’t rest on that move alone when it came to upgrading the rotation. They pounced early, and got the guy they wanted by giving Dylan Cease a reported seven-year deal worth over $200 million.
And while they have been rumored to be interested in other big name free agents, such as Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz, this front office has also made many offseason trades throughout the years to try and plug holes and increase efficiencies. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they will try to do that again.
In a recent article on MLB.com, Mark Feinsand wrote about a potential trade candidate from every team, and if the Royals, Nationals and Cardinals do make these players available, Toronto GM Ross Atkins should be picking up the phone immediately.
The Blue Jays should start making calls on these 3 players on this trade list
Royals LHP Kris Bubic: Feinsand writes that “Kansas City has rotation depth from which to deal, making Bubic – who is in his final year of arbitration – a potential trade chip.” Bubic had a strong 2025 season with a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts. He had 116 strikeouts in 116.1 before a left rotator cuff strain ended his year in July.
The Blue Jays don’t have a lefty starter in their rotation right now, unless you count Eric Lauer, who is listed as the number six starter / long-reliever our of the bullpen. So if we’re keeping track, Bubic would be starer number seven. However, there is speculation that the Blue Jays could move on from José Berrios this offseason, which would free up space for a starter like Bubic.
Kansas City are looking for outfielders and the Blue Jays have plenty of those within their system, include Joey Loperfido, who Feinsand writes is Toronto’s biggest trade chip.
Nationals LHP Mackenzie Gore: Feinsand writes that Gore is, “One of the top controllable starters potentially on the trade market” as he is entering his second year of arbitration. Feinsand speculates that the team’s new president of baseball operations, Paul Toboni, could use Gore to help restock a farm system that has recently graduated a handful of players, including Dylan Crews, James Wood, Brady House, Daylen Lile and Robert Hassell III.
After the Blue Jays traded several top prospects at the deadline just a few months ago, it’s unclear what their comfort level is right now in trading any more from the top of the farm, which they’ll surely have to do to get Gore. As well, like with Bubic above, acquiring a southpaw to put in their rotation would also mean needing to potentially move Berrios.
The 26-year-old Gore will hit free agency following the 2027 season, so he wouldn’t exactly be a “long-term” fit, unless the Blue Jays extended him. But the prospects of having Gore, Yesavage in the same rotation for a couple of years could be worth whatever they have to give up.
Cardinals INF Brendan Donovan. Another player who has two years of club control before he hits free agency, Donovan could be the next guy on his way out of St. Louis, with the Cardinals recently dealing Sonny Gray to Boston. It’s likely Nolan Arenado is also going to be on the trade market, but Feinsand writes, “Donovan is the trade piece that could bring back the most solid return. Donovan made his first All-Star team in 2025, finishing the season with 10 home runs, 50 RBI and a .775 OPS.”
Ernie Clement and Donovan could make an incredible platoon in the infield. The left handed hitting Donovan smashed righties, hitting .315/.383/.471 with an OPS of .854 and eight of those ten home runs came off righties. Meanwhile, Clement had a slash line of .326/.351/.549 with an OPS of .900 against lefties in 2025.
Both Clement and Donovan can play multiple infield positions as well, giving Blue Jays Manager John Schneider plenty of flexibility between these two players as well as Addison Barger who can man third base, and play right field. For what it’s worth, Donovan also logged over 1400 innings in the outfield in his MLB career.
Yes, the Blue Jays should still want to bring back Bo Bichette as their number one priority, and if they do, they can decide internally whether they play Bo at shortstop or second base and flip Andés Giménez to the other side, but it’s always good to have a back up plan, and Donovan is a solid Plan B option. Similar to Bubic and Gore, Donovan could cost them a couple of high-end prospects, but if the Blue Jays don’t get Bichette, Donovan shouldn’t be ruled out.
