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Thanks to a recent stretch of poor play, the Toronto Blue Jays have all but ensured their fate as trade deadline sellers. There's still a slimmer of hope that this team can rediscover the magic that propelled them to the World Series a year ago, but 100 games of data in 2026 suggests otherwise.
If that's the case, don't expect them to blow things up completely. The core of a championship contender remains in place; the front office simply needs to retool for the years ahead, doing a better job building around the stars and entrenched role players.
Thus, rentals and players with minimal team control will be the name of the game come Aug. 3. Naturally, the stars (Kevin Gausman, George Springer, Shane Bieber, etc.) will hog the spotlight, but there are others on the roster who can fill more niche needs on the trade market.
Take Jesús Sánchez for example. The 28-year-old outfielder is having a strong season (107 wRC+) in Toronto, but he's out of minor-league options and due to become a free agent after next season. With the Blue Jays preparing him for a brief rehab assignment this week, could he make enough of an impression in a brief pre-deadline audition to get the organization a nice haul?
Jesús Sánchez's return from ankle injury will play an important role in Blue Jays' trade deadline plans
Sánchez has been out since June 26 with an ankle injury, so the fact that he's running the bases consistently is a promising sign for the health of his lower body. His rehab assignment, scheduled to begin on Thursday (Jul. 23), shouldn't last longer than a few days.
That would give him roughly one week prior to the Aug. 3 trade deadline to audition for the rest of the league and prove he's healthy. Despite obvious flaws in his profile (poor defense and an inability to hit southpaws), Sánchez excels at what he does best: hit right-handed pitchers. Prior to going on the shelf, he crushed them to the tune of a .293/.335/.473 batting line, good for a 122 wRC+.
It's not unreasonable to think that they could do more than just recoup the value they lost in Joey Loperfido, the player they traded to acquire Sánchez in the first place. He's having a much stronger season than he did in 2025, and power hitters are always in high demand this time of year.
Barring a setback during his rehab assignment, expect the Blue Jays to aggressively push Sánchez over the next week, with the intention of playing him every day leading up to the trade deadline once he's activated off the IL. His trade market won't be as glamorous as that of someone like Gausman, but every deal matters when you're trying to salvage a lost season.
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This article was originally published on jaysjournal.com as Jesús Sánchez's impending return gives the Blue Jays a chance to maximize his trade value.
