Everybody who watches baseball knows that the Toronto Blue Jays have been built with the intention of winning the World Series in 2026.

After getting to Game 7 of the World Series a year ago, the Jays went out and spent $210 million on Dylan Cease in the offseason, as well as $60 million on Kazuma Okamoto and $37 million on Tyler Rogers. 

The high-octane and expensive roster was supposed to help the Jays get over the hump this season, but thus far, it just hasn't happened.

With injuries a huge part of the story, the Jays are just 42-49 entering play on Tuesday. They are 11.5 games back in the American League East and 3.5 back of the third and final wild card spot. Which begs the question: What should the team do at the trade deadline?

Logic dictates that the Blue Jays should be sellers and that they should take advantage of the limited sellers market in order to get good returns that could help re-tool for 2027 and beyond.

Furthermore, with the impending labor issues calling into question how much of the 2027 season will actually get played, there may not be as much desire to hold onto players who are also under contract through only 2027.

Of course, given that the Jays are just 3.5 games back of the third wild card spot, a playoff spot is not out of the question. So, if they stayed the course, or even made some modest buys, it wouldn't be shocking.

But if the Jays do sell, what could they potentially move in deals?

A stalwart of the rotation since arriving before the 2022 season, Gausman is in the final year of his contract, making him a candidate for a trade. He's 4-8 this season with an inflated 4.32 ERA, but he has big-game experience and the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that starter-needy teams crave in the playoffs.

Speaking of big-game experience, there's almost nobody better in the playoffs than the 37-year-old Springer. He's hitting just .221 this season with eight homers and 21 RBIs, but he had 32 homers just a season ago. He's also a free agent at year's end, but he does have 10-and-5 rights, meaning he essentially has a full no-trade clause.

Every team is always looking for bullpen help, and since Louis Varland has taken over as the Jays' closer, Hoffman could be an expendable piece for Toronto. He's under contract through 2027, but again, the labor situation may make him less valuable to the Jays. 

He's 5-5 with a 4.42 ERA, and he features A-list swing-and-miss stuff as well, having fanned 62 batters in 38.2 innings.

Daulton Varsho, OF

Shane Bieber, SP

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