The Toronto Blue Jays had a disappointing 2024 season. After making the playoffs in 2023, they took a step back and missed the postseason in 2024. Now, the front office is looking to make some changes to get the team back on track. With a strong core of young players, the Blue Jays have a lot of potential. But they need to make some key additions if they want to contend for a World Series title in 2025.

Current Roster and Strengths

The Blue Jays have a solid core of position players, led by some of the biggest names in the league.

Player	Position
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	First Base
Bo Bichette	Shortstop
George Springer	Outfield
Daulton Varsho	Outfield

Guerrero Jr. is one of the most productive offensive players in MLB, and Bichette is a rising star at shortstop. Springer and Varsho provide a good mix of power and speed in the outfield. The starting rotation is also a strength, with Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and José Berríos at the top. Gausman and Bassitt are both reliable veterans, and Berríos has the potential to be an ace.  

Weaknesses

Despite their strengths, the Blue Jays have some significant weaknesses. The bullpen was a major issue in 2024, ranking 29th in MLB in ERA. They need to add multiple arms, and specifically some left-handed pitchers, to improve their relief pitching. The team also lacks power, ranking 28th in MLB in home runs. They could use a left-handed power bat to add some punch to their lineup. Finally, the Blue Jays need a second catcher. They should pair this new catcher with Alejandro Kirk. Personally, I think Kirk should be a backup at best.  

Looking ahead to 2025, the Blue Jays can’t overlook the starting rotation. Even if another pitcher like Yariel Rodriguez takes on an expanded starting role, there’s a potential for attrition. Starting pitchers often face this risk. Kevin Gausman will be pitching in his age-34 season. Chris Bassitt will be pitching in his age-36 season. As a result, their durability could be a concern. Max Scherzer was a big signing for the club. However, he will start this season as a 40 year old. He will be 41 years of age by the end of the season. He is also coming off a season that saw him start only 9 games in 2024 with a 3.95 ERA.

Top Prospects

The Blue Jays have a few promising prospects who could make an impact in 2025. Ricky Tiedemann is their top pitching prospect, and he has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation starter. Unfortunately, he is recovering from Tommy John surgery and may not be ready until late in the season. Orelvis Martinez is a power-hitting infielder who could provide some much-needed pop. Hopefully, he has addressed the fertility issues. He was suspended 80 games last season for taking clomiphene to deal with the issue. Trey Yesavage and Jake Bloss are two other pitching prospects who could contribute in 2025.  

However, the Blue Jays’ prospect depth is thin beyond these top few names. This is partly due to recent trades that have depleted their farm system. This lack of depth could limit their ability to make trades in the future. They may not have enough attractive prospects to offer other teams.  

Potential Trade Targets

Based on the Blue Jays’ needs and their prospect capital, here are some potential trade targets:

Catchers

• William Contreras (Brewers): Contreras is a young, offensive-minded catcher who would be a perfect fit for the Blue Jays. He has a team-friendly contract. His salary is $6 million this year. There is also a club option for $12 million in 2026. He is under team control through 2026. He would provide an offensive upgrade over Kirk and could potentially split time with him behind the plate. The Brewers may be hesitant to trade Contreras, as he is one of their best young players. His trade value is estimated to be $7.6 million.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Team control through 2026	$7.6 million

• Sean Murphy (Braves): Murphy is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, and he also has a solid bat. He is under contract through 2028 with an annual average value of $12.2 million. The Braves may be willing to trade him if they can get a good return. However, Murphy’s contract is quite expensive, and the Blue Jays may not be willing to take on that much salary. His trade value is estimated to be $11.92 million.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under contract through 2028	$11.92 million

• Salvador Perez (Royals): Perez is a veteran catcher with a proven track record of success. He is under contract through 2025 with a club option for 2026. He would provide leadership and stability to the Blue Jays’ catching position. However, Perez is 35 years old, and his best days may be behind him. The Royals may not be willing to trade him, as he is a fan favorite and a team leader. Estimating his trade value is difficult. However, it is likely to be high because of his experience and leadership qualities.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under contract through 2025 with a club option for 2026	High

• Danny Jansen (Rays): Jansen is a familiar face for the Blue Jays, having played for them from 2018-2024. He is now with the Rays on a one-year, $8.5 million contract with a mutual option for 2026. However, he struggled offensively in 2024, and the Blue Jays may be looking for an upgrade. His trade value is likely to be moderate, as he is a solid defensive catcher with some offensive potential.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
One-year, $8.5 million contract with a mutual option for 2026	Moderate

Starting Pitchers

• Jack Flaherty (Tigers): Flaherty is a talented young pitcher who could bolster the Blue Jays’ starting rotation. He is entering his final year of team control and is likely to be a rental acquisition. Flaherty has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation starter, but he has also struggled with injuries in the past. His trade value is likely to be high, as he is one of the top rental arms available.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Entering final year of team control	High

Relief Pitchers

• Devin Williams (Yankees): Williams is one of the best relievers in baseball. He would be a huge addition to the Blue Jays’ bullpen. He is entering his final year of salary arbitration and is projected to make $7.7 million. Williams is a dominant closer with a high strikeout rate and a low ERA. However, acquiring him would likely require a significant prospect haul.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Entering final year of salary arbitration	Very High

• Pete Fairbanks (Rays): Fairbanks is a hard-throwing reliever with a high strikeout rate. He is under team control through 2025. Fairbanks could provide a much-needed boost to the Blue Jays’ bullpen. However, the Rays may be reluctant to trade him within the division. His trade value is likely to be moderate, as he is a solid reliever with some upside.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under team control through 2025	Moderate

• Mason Miller (Athletics): Miller is a young reliever with a lot of potential. He is under team control through 2029. Miller has the potential to be a dominant closer in the future. However, he is still relatively inexperienced, and the Athletics may not be willing to trade him. His trade value is likely to be high, as he is a young player with a lot of team control.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under team control through 2029	High

• Carlos Estevez (Angels): Estevez is a reliable closer with a good track record. He is entering his final year of team control and is playing on a $6.75 million salary. Estevez could provide some stability to the Blue Jays’ bullpen. However, he may not be a significant upgrade over their current options. His trade value is likely to be moderate, as he is a solid reliever with one year of control remaining.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Entering final year of team control	Moderate

• Tanner Scott (Marlins): Scott is a left-handed reliever with a high strikeout rate. He is under team control through 2026. Scott could address the Blue Jays’ need for left-handed pitching in their bullpen. However, he has struggled with control in the past. His trade value is likely to be moderate, as he is a talented reliever with some risk.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under team control through 2026	Moderate

Power Hitters

• Nolan Gorman (Cardinals): Gorman is a young, left-handed power hitter who would be a perfect fit for the Blue Jays. He is under team control through 2027. Gorman has the potential to hit for both average and power. His trade value is likely to be high, as he is a young player with a lot of upside.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under team control through 2027	High

• Riley Greene (Tigers): Greene is a young outfielder with a lot of potential. He is under team control through 2028. Greene has the potential to be a five-tool player. However, acquiring him could impact the playing time of prospect Addison Barger, who is also an outfielder. His trade value is likely to be very high, as he is one of the top young outfielders in baseball.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under team control through 2028	Very High

• Brent Rooker (Athletics): Rooker is a right-handed power hitter. He could provide some pop off the bench for the Blue Jays. He is under team control through 2027. Rooker has shown flashes of power in the past. However, he is not an everyday player and may not be a significant upgrade over the Blue Jays’ current options. His trade value is likely to be low, as he is a role player with limited upside.  

Contract Status	Trade Value
Under team control through 2027	Low

Key Insights

The Blue Jays have certain needs, prospect capital, and financial considerations. Based on these factors, the best trade targets for them appear to be William Contreras, Devin Williams, and Nolan Gorman. Contreras would provide an offensive upgrade at catcher. Williams would solidify the bullpen. Gorman would add a much-needed left-handed power bat to the lineup. These trades would address the Blue Jays’ most pressing needs. They wouldn’t require them to give up their top prospects or take on too much salary.

However, each of these trade targets comes with some risks. Contreras could block the development of a young catching prospect. Acquiring Williams would be expensive. Gorman could impact the playing time of Barger, Loperfido and Schneider. The Blue Jays will need to weigh these risks against the potential rewards before making any trades.

Conclusion

The Toronto Blue Jays have a lot of work to do this off-season if they want to contend in 2025. They need to improve their bullpen, add some power to their lineup, and find a second (starting) catcher. They also need to consider the long-term health of their starting rotation.

The trade targets discussed in this article could help the Blue Jays address their needs. William Contreras, Devin Williams, and Nolan Gorman are all intriguing options who could make a significant impact. However, the Blue Jays will need to carefully consider the risks and rewards of each trade before making a decision.

Go Jays Go!