ESPN news: Blue Jays made mega deal, seen as a suprise candidate worth $36 million.

To begin the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have fallen short of expectations. The squad is 17–20 despite having elite players like Justin Turner, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Right now, they are the American League Central’s bottom team. If the Blue Jays can’t get things straightened out the deadline, they may have to sell. The “Surprise” trade candidate Yusei Kikuchi was mentioned by Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report.

In 2022, Kikuchi inked a three-year, $36 million contract with the Blue Jays. At the age of 27, he signed with the Mariners to begin his Major League Baseball career.

“If the Toronto front office truly wanted to hang up the towel this summer, it could cook up one hell of a fire sale without extensions on the books for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, but it’s still too early to expect anything that drastic,” Reuter wrote.

Blue Jays May Sell When the Trade Deadline Approaches
In 2023, the Blue Jays won 89 games, which guaranteed them a wild-card berth in the postseason. The Minnesota Twins defeated the Blue Jays in the opening round. But the gifted team raised hopes that they would return to the postseason in 2024. Even while there is still plenty baseball time to turn things around, the Blue Jays’ early difficulties do not suggest a postseason appearance.

Runs and home runs scored by the Blue Jays rank No. 26. Both batting average and OPS have them ranked No. 22. They have not only struggled offensively but also allowed the sixth-highest team ERA. The Blue Jays are just not performing well enough at the plate or on the mound.

The contract circumstances of the Blue Jays’ best players combined with their on-field struggles make them seem like strong candidates to trade some players for prospects.

“The Jays keep playing poorly. They have a franchise-high payroll of $225 million. They have an ok farming system. The squad is at a crossroads, as many of their key names are getting close to free agency, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Guerrero and Bichette are both due to be free agents after 2025, but it is unlikely the Blue Jays would unlikely they move on at this stage, as Reuter wrote. They are more likely to move their free agents after this season, though.

“Upcoming free agents Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Danny Jansen and Kevin Kiermaier are the most logical trade chips if they fail to climb back into contention, while closer Jordan Romano is also a candidate to be dealt,” said Reuter.

Exchange In 2023, Kikuchi, then 32 years old, made 32 starts. He had 181 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA. He has 43 strikeouts and a 2.72 ERA through seven starts in 2024. It was not a good start to his Blue Jays career. In 32 games, he had a 5.19 ERA and even lost his starting position. Reuter noted that he had a “nice bounce-back season last year.”

If the Blue Jays don’t think they can compete, his comeback might be enough to sell him.

Reuter stated, “His 2.31 FIP gives plenty of reason for optimism that his career-best start is sustainable. Teams always need pitching help at the deadline.”

When the trade deadline comes around, a lot of teams will make calls in an effort to strengthen their rotation. The Blue Jays may begin adding components for the future while focussing on getting long-term contracts signed by Guerrero and Bichette.