We're barely past Memorial Day and there are already trade rumors for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024. Why is this the case? That's because the Blue Jays have quickly become one of the biggest disappointments in MLB this year.
Currently, the Toronto Blue Jays' record indicates they are still alive for a Wild Card spot. But would it be better for them to demolish everything and rebuild?
How should the Blue Jays approach the rest of 2024?
This question deserves a closer look. Can the Blue Jays rebound and become a contender? Is it worth starting over in 2025 and taking another chance with their core? Should a large-scale rebuilding project be started this summer? With the Blue Jays' 2024 trade rumors already underway, let's take a closer look at the Blue Jays' situation and their options moving forward.
Can 2024 be saved?
Technically, there is plenty of time for the Blue Jays to salvage the 2024 season and push to reach the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Toronto is just a few games below .500 and less than five games out of a Wild Card spot.
But at the same time, there are only four teams in the MLS with a worse margin. The way the Blue Jays have played to this point does not inspire confidence that they can play with the kind of consistency that will allow them to make the playoffs and be any kind of threat once they get there.
Should the Blue Jays run it again in 2025?
Even if 2024 becomes a lost cause, can't Toronto hit the reset button and try again in 2025? This is also a possibility, although it may not be a great idea.
While the core of the team is under contract through next season, the Blue Jays are set to lose some key players to free agency. Yusei Kikuchi, a reliable part of the rotation, as well as key relievers like Trevor Richards and Yimi Garcia, will be free agents this winter. Danny Jansen, the team's starting point guard, will also be a free agent. Without a strong farm system to produce ready-made replacements, the Blue Jays will have to make a significant investment this winter to put a contending team on the field in 2025.
How to demolish it
With the Blue Jays off to a bad start in 2024 and plenty of questions facing them in 2025, now might be a good time to tear it down and rebuild. That will likely start with the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trade. Although he has yet to blossom into one of the greatest first basemen of all time, the 25-year-old Guerrero would have significant value on the trade market, especially since he won't be a free agent until after the 2025 season.
The same goes for Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Chris Bassett, and Chad Green, who would also be valuable trade chips. In fact, there has already been news of Bo Bichette in rumors similar to Vlad Jr. It wouldn't take much effort for the Blue Jays to trade either player and get a bunch of valuable prospects in exchange to start rebuilding their struggling farm system.
Unfortunately, the Blue Jays did not reach the level they were expected to reach with a core highlighted by Guerrero and Bichette. Some of the team's expensive investments like George Springer didn't pan out either, contributing to Toronto's failure. With Springer's contract on the books through the 2026 season, it will be difficult for Toronto to compete during that period, especially with Guerrero and other arbitration-eligible players receiving raises in 2025.
But if the Blue Jays make big cuts this summer, they could rebuild a little faster. The likes of Kikuchi, Garcia, and Janssen would be valuable rental players on the trade market, while Guerrero, Pichet, Bassett, and others could command more as they are under contract until 2025. Unfortunately, trying to play both sides won't work. Be an effective strategy in the East Bearing. Therefore, the Blue Jays need to seriously consider tearing everything down and starting over as soon as possible.
