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The Toronto Blue Jays reached the World Series a year ago but have struggled mightily this season.
Toronto is 1-3 since the All-Star break, and the Blue Jays are likely to be sellers ahead of the August 3 MLB Trade Deadline. Although Toronto has struggled, the team does have some pending free agents to sell, like Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho, and George Springer.
However, if the Blue Jays truly want to recoup some top-end prospects and bolster their prospect pool, Toronto could and should sell high on closer Louis Varland, who was named an All-Star this year.
Just a year ago, the Athletics traded Mason Miller, who had four-and-a-half years of control left, to the San Diego Padres for Leo De Vries, the No. 2 prospect in baseball, and right-handers Braden Nett (the A's 4th-ranked prospect), Henry Báez (A's 12th-ranked prospect) and Eduarniel Nuñez.
It was a massive return that has changed the outlook of the Athletics system. Although Miller has a better pedigree than Varland, Toronto still could get a haul back for him.
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Varland is under team control through the 2030 MLB season, so Toronto could ask for a major return. The Blue Jays could likely get two or three of a team's top-10 prospects, and at least one of the top-five prospects in all of baseball.
Although Varland has been dominant as the Blue Jays' closer, a non-playoff team doesn't need an elite closer. So, if Toronto wants to add some true difference-making prospects, trading Varland would be the best way to do it.
Varland is 3-3 with a 1.08 ERA in 45 games and is 20-for-20 in save opportunities, showing how dominant he can be.
And, if the Blue Jays don't get a haul in return for Varland, they can hold on to him. But trading him makes sense for Toronto to bolster its prospect pool and start to turn to 2027 and 2028 and be competitive again.
Blue Jays Likely to be Sellers
Toronto entered the season with expectations of going on another deep playoff run.
Yet, the Blue Jays' top players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Varsho have all struggled. With Toronto now 46-54 and 5.5 games back of a Wild Card spot, the Blue Jays are likely to be sellers ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
"Who would have imagined that the Toronto Blue Jays would be two outs away from the World Series one year, and sitting in last place in the AL East the next? They have gone from potential buyers to likely sellers at the trade deadline," Nightengale wrote.
The Blue Jays' top trade chips are Gausman - if he wants to be dealt - and Varland if Toronto wants to sell high. But the team still could look to move other players with control, like Andres Gimenez, Jeff Hoffman, and Mason Fluharty, among others.
Ultimately, the 2026 season for the Blue Jays is a bad one, and the team should sell off and look towards next season.
Related: Blue Jays Must Replace Daulton Varsho at Trade Deadline
