The Blue Jays are enjoying out the stretch on a tough season. Toronto is effectively under .500 and appears headed for a final place end, a really disappointing final result for a workforce coming off consecutive playoff berths that believed they have been squarely within the midst of their rivalry window. Toronto had little selection however to promote on the deadline as soon as it grew to become clear they weren’t going to come back near the postseason.
Whilst they shopped veteran items, the entrance workplace wasn’t eager on an enormous overhaul. Many of the Jays’ trades shipped off impending free brokers (e.g. Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Yimi García, Trevor Richards, Danny Jansen, Kevin Kiermaier). They moved a pair position gamers beneath contract or workforce management past this season, delivery out Isiah Okiner-Falefa and Nate Pearson. But they by no means appeared near dealing any core gamers whom they might maintain round for 2025.
Chris Bassitt is one such veteran. The correct-hander is within the second season of a three-year, $63MM free agent deal. He’s enjoying on an $18MM wage and can make an identical quantity subsequent yr. Bassitt completed tenth in Cy Younger balloting a season in the past. This yr’s work has been strong however not as spectacular, as he carries a 4.34 ERA by way of 139 frames.
There was an argument for the Jays to buy Bassitt this summer time, particularly if they might discover a taker for his whole ’25 wage. Whereas he stays an efficient pitcher, he’ll be going into his age-36 marketing campaign on a roster that wants lots of work subsequent offseason. Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported 5 days earlier than the deadline that the Jays had no intention of shifting both Bassitt or Kevin Gausman, although. Neither pitcher discovered himself in any commerce rumors of substance.
In an interview with Chris Rose of Jomboy Media final week (YouTube hyperlink), Bassitt mentioned that the Toronto entrance workplace made clear early within the course of that he wouldn’t be traded. “There (have been) lots of articles and lots of people saying that I used to be leaving or must be leaving. They instructed me I wasn’t leaving,” Bassitt mentioned. Whereas he didn’t specify the precise time of that dialog, he added that he “knew for some time” upfront of the deadline that he wasn’t shifting. Bassitt acknowledged some disappointment that he wasn’t in place to battle for a playoff spot this yr, although he added that he’s optimistic in regards to the group’s want to make one other effort to compete in 2025.
Proficient as Bassitt is, he’s solely the third-most necessary Blue Jays participant who’s on observe at no cost company after subsequent season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette might be two of the headlining items of the 2025-26 free agent class. GM Ross Atkins made clear early in deadline season that the Jays had no curiosity in buying and selling both. There’s no indication they ever severely reconsidered even because the workforce fell firmly out of ’24 playoff rivalry.
Requested by Rose whether or not the Jays ought to’ve traded or prolonged Guerrero this summer time, Bassitt expressed some optimism that the Jays will have the ability to maintain him round for the lengthy haul. “I don’t know this, I don’t wish to communicate for him on this, however I feel Vladdy desires to be a Blue Jay for the remainder of his profession. I don’t assume he desires to depart,” the pitcher opined. “I don’t assume it’s a brilliant, tremendous, tremendous rush to get an extension accomplished. They clearly didn’t commerce him as a result of they don’t need him to be in one other uniform. … I feel either side wish to be collectively. I don’t assume it’s a foul relationship.”
Guerrero is enjoying this yr on a $19.9MM wage. He ought to exceed $25MM and will push close to $30MM for his last arbitration season. After a sluggish begin to the season, Guerrero has been on a large tear for the reason that starting of Could. He’s as much as a .317/.390/.552 slash with 26 dwelling runs throughout 543 plate appearances. This has been Guerrero’s greatest yr since his MVP runner-up marketing campaign in 2021. He’s on observe to get to free company upfront of his age-27 season and will command a deal that exceeds $300MM.
Over the weekend, USA At this time’s Bob Nightengale wrote that the Jays certainly stay hopeful of figuring out an extension with Guerrero earlier than he will get to free company. Nightengale suggests there’s much less optimism about an extension with Bichette, writing that the Jays may area commerce provides on the shortstop in the course of the upcoming winter in the event that they don’t really feel they’ll make progress on an extension.
This may arguably be a poor time for both a commerce or an extension. Bichette has had by far the worst season of his profession. He’s hitting .222/.275/.320 with solely 4 homers by way of 331 journeys to the plate. The 2-time All-Star has had a pair of injured checklist stints due to proper calf points. He has been out of motion for precisely a month with a notable calf pressure and appears unlikely to return till some level in September.
Not like Guerrero, Bichette has a set wage subsequent yr. He’ll make $16.5MM within the last season of the three-year deal he signed to purchase out all his arbitration years. There’d nonetheless be ample commerce curiosity if the Jays shopped him. The free agent shortstop class, headlined by Willy Adames and Ha-Seong Kim, isn’t as barren as this previous winter’s was. Issues fall off rapidly after Kim, although, and there aren’t many on a regular basis shortstops who appear prone to be on the commerce block. Bichette arguably nonetheless carries a better offensive ceiling than every other shortstop who may fairly be out there in both free company or commerce.
Whether or not that’ll end in a deal stays to be seen. Atkins mentioned as lately as final month that the Jays are hopeful of holding Guerrero and Bichette for the lengthy haul. Jon Heyman of the New York Put up wrote shortly earlier than the commerce deadline that previous extension talks with each gamers hadn’t made a lot progress. Heyman advised on the time that the Jays didn’t have a terrific likelihood of extending Bichette — aligning with Nightengale’s current report. Even when that’s the case, buying and selling Bichette would dig one other gap for a workforce that believes it might rebound subsequent season. Rookie Leo Jiménez has taken over shortstop previously month. He’s hitting .221/.307/.368 with subpar strikeout (32.1%) and stroll (5.5%) charges in 34 video games.
