Toronto Blue Jays: Upgrading could be costly as team looks to contend

The Toronto Blue Jays have climbed back into contention for the wild card but they should show some caution as they look to make some upgrades.

Not too long ago there were people questioning whether the Toronto Blue Jays should consider unloading players and retool an aging roster. The team went into May with an 8-17 record and some giving little hope of turning things around. Now almost halfway through June the narrative looks like it is slowly changing.

With a 18-10 record in May, the Blue Jays put themselves within a game and a half of the wild card. This upcoming series against the Tampa Bay Rays will be an important one because they are one of the teams that Toronto is chasing. As of right now the team sits seven and a half game behind the New York Yankees for the division, but that should not be the focus right now.

Last season they were able to go from the wild card game to the ALCS, so winning the division is not the be all end all formula for success. The team could stand to make a couple of upgrades especially if they are able to climb above .500 by the end of June but they obviously need to be cautious about it.

One of the positions that needs stability is in left field, that position has been a problem all season and it should be the team’s major focus if they intend on being active. Jonah Keri wrote a piece for the Athletic providing different trade targets for the Blue Jays to look at.

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That list includes utility players; Josh Harrison, Scooter Gennett, and outfielders; Andrew McCuthchen, Khris Davis and J.D. Martinez. Two of the names that stand out as big name upgrades are Martinez and McCuthchen who could be what the team needs but will cost a fortune to acquire.

McCuthchen is a name that has been linked to the Blue Jays since the offseason and while he is not the player he used to be and the Pittsburgh Pirates will have to make a decision on what his future with the team looks like. He has one more year on his contract after next season which is probably why the team looked at him in the first place. They are more likely to part with a prospect for a player with control rather than a pending free agent that will likely walk after this season.

After a slow start to the season, he has picked up so far in the month of June hitting a .412/.474/.618 and an OPS of 1.093. This likely drives up the price for McCuthcen which could cost the Blue Jays a mix of prospects and roster players like Joe Biagini, Sean Reid-Foley, Rowdy Tellez and Dalton Pompey. That could be too expensive for the Blue Jays to consider since their odds of winning a World Series are not as high as in past seasons.

Martinez is an intriguing player because he looks like a better option to McCutchen, with one catch. He is a pending free agent, which is not something Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins are willing to give up prospects for. However, this is a player that would bring an immediate impact to the team. Since returning from the disabled list, Martinez is batting .310 with 10 home runs. The Detroit Tigers are in a tough position as they need to make a decision on whether they are going to be contending in the Central division.

That alone makes him a tougher option for the team to consider because it would likely cost them a decent prospect with no guarantee that he will return especially if he expects a big payday in free agency.

The Detroit Free Press wrote that the Tigers could realistically get multiple prospects including a team’s higher-tier player, a mid-level one and possibly a major leaguer. That is a steep price considering the Blue Jays are starting to see some of their prospects make news in the minor leagues.

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Seeing the way that the young stars of the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees bring them back atop of the AL, the Blue Jays should be patient and hold off on making a big splash unless the right deal comes forward. The team has a good starting rotation and with the return of Josh Donaldson and other players contributing, the team might be able to rely on a smaller addition to move them forward. It could be Steve Pearce’s return from injury or even Dalton Pompey so at this point, it is better off waiting until those players come back.

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