So. It has been my position that the owners and the fans have too much invested in this season for Atkins to relent and pull the plug on this season. BUT each new day we are treated to a barely watchable listless effort from this lineup that seemingly can't bring themselves to give the GM some cover for acquiring some help, however long the odds. Certainly it might still happen but no one watching this team can see the potential for a sharp turnaround.
In that context my mind turns more and more to what a sale might look like as opposed to what might be available to rescue this squad.
I've also been in the camp of "sell what?" because it didn't look like a promising crop, particularly if you're just making selective adjustments rather than beginning an overhaul. But maybe I'm too skeptical about value for trades, but I also recognize that there's so much uncertainty about how many teams will sell that it's possible nominal values might get inflated due to a forced scarcity. So maybe there's something to look forward to if not, ya know, winning ball games. Here's an exhaustive list of veteran players that might move. Mostly pending free agents but not entirely.
Kevin Gausman - three turns left before the deadline, would have to impress scouts that (like last year) he's shaken off a bad June and is on track for a good second half. Some media speculates they would like to bring him back next year but if you get a tempting offer you take it and he'll understand. You can always resign him after the season if you want.
Shane Bieber - 2 more starts, similarly he has to pitch well in both but that seems much more likely after Saturday. He, too, could always be approached in the off-season if you want.
Max Scherzer - won't be healthy in time. If someone wanted to take on the gamble it would be for the most menial long shot A ball guy, and Scherzer might at least be able to take some turns if you do open up two holes in the rotation.
Jeff Hoffman - I'm a little skeptical here but there's every chance they will get their best offer for him and not be willing to say no. That is, they don't have to be shopping him to get real quality offers (Maybe something involving Jett Williams if they think he can be a quality CF? This would be a spot where you'd want to address an impending hole if you can)
Yimi Garcia - similarly to Scherzer, no one should count on him
Patrick Corbin - fringy return if anything (which might still turn out nice, but not someone any of us have heard of now. That kid they got for Seabold has shown well early, something like that is best case)
Brendon Little - if anyone thinks they can fix him? He's thrown away pretty much all of the theoretical value he had a year ago.
George Springer - if he's convinced anyone with his .753 OPS in his last 38 games? I could see a team like the Braves thinking decent offense and vet leadership might be an asset. He'd have to agree to it (5/10)
Dalton Varsho - the horrific offense since he hurt the wrist really drags him down, but while he's no longer a premium CF, the Phillies, Astros, White Sox, Rays, and Marlins all might see him as an upgrade. A Hot streak would help. Likely has more market value than many Jays fans would expect.
Myles Straw - not going to get a premium return but a confident contender would like to improve at the margins.
Jesus Sanchez - again, a marginal add but a team with a need at DH as well as some outfield reps - Cleveland for example - could be interested.
Andres Gimenez - I don't know how, but it would be deeply stupid to pass on any opportunity. Moving at least the majority of his remaining money without taking on another bad contract would be a deal you dare not decline. I personally can't imagine how you'd do that and you'd surely get nothing but a wild card A ball guy or a very fringy quad-A dude. But this is a case where the exit is the most important thing.
Lukes? Doesn't seem like they'd particularly want to but I could see there being teams that would find him interesting. How much would they pay for that interest though?
They'll get calls on Clement but that would be REALLY ballsy.
Could be as many as 6 or 7 deals out of that group IF Ross is cold-blooded enough to go full-reset. If you take it as a given that Pending free agents are (or will be if current trends continue) definitionally available the only two other people mentioned here who might be considered part of the "emotional core" of the '25 team are Lukes and Straw (I don't think Ross dares trade Clement) and so there's potential here if the players in question (particularly Gausman, Bieber, Varsho, and Springer) play well enough to be more desirable.
Besides the obvious desire to add prospects, I wonder if they'll look for chances to add reclamation projects rather than just middling prospects. For example, Andrew Painter - is he REALLY just a complete bust or is there still potential there that Pete and his staff can pull out of him? As previously mentioned, an opportunity to add someone that would at least compete to be important players on the '27 team. Particularly starting pitchers and potential center fielders.
I assume much of this will be obsolete before the weekend, but it's what I do.
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