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The Toronto Blue Jays have not had much luck in free agency, but have found some success in the trade market. They could add a slugging outfielder through a trade before the season starts.
The Los Angeles Angels could be open to trading Taylor Ward, and the Blue Jays could jump on the chance to add him. The Blue Jays tried to sign Juan Soto but came up short. They also failed to reunite with Teoscar Hernández and are now making a run at Anthony Santander. FanSided’s Stephen Parello suggested Ward could end up in Toronto if they miss out on Santander.
“The Blue Jays have been desperately attempting to upgrade their roster,” wrote Parello. “They were chasing Juan Soto, but came up short. They were in on Corbin Burnes, just to watch him wind up in Arizona. Now, they’re pursuing Anthony Santander with an apparent four-year $82 million offer. Like with the Tigers, a Taylor Ward trade between these two teams is dependent on Santander signing somewhere other than Toronto, and preferably with the Angels.”
Ward will be a free agent after the 2026 season. He signed a one-year, $7.8 million deal, avoiding arbitration for 2025. He hit 25 home runs in 156 games last season and could bring similar power the Blue Jays were chasing in free agency. Spotrac projects him to earn a three-year, $43 million deal in free agency.
“As for what they could give up that would be of interest to the Halos, there’s their number two prospect, Orelvis Martinez,” wrote Parello. “The 23-year-old second baseman made his big league debut in 2024. Martinez isn’t perfect, almost immediately after reaching the big leagues he was hit with an 80-game PED suspension that certainly tarnished some of his luster.”
The Blue Jays traded for Andrés Giménez to play second base for the foreseeable future. Martinez could have become expendable after the acquisition and could be a valuable piece for the Angels.
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