The Toronto Blue Jays took an aggressive approach to the MLB offseason, doing everything possible to lure superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker north of the border.
Unfortunately, Tucker decided to sign a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That led to the Blue Jays being surrounded with rumors connecting them to free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. However, he chose to re-sign a lucrative deal with the New York Yankees.
Bo Bichette was another option for Toronto entering the offseason. He ended up signing with the New York Mets.
Where could the Blue Jays go from here? How could they bring in an upgrade to try and keep pace with the Dodgers and the rest of the MLB elites? An intriguing trade option has been suggested.
Toronto Blue Jays Linked to Trade for Brendan Donovan
Blue Jays Nation analyst Ian Hunter believes that trading for St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan could be the right match for Toronto. Donovan has been talked about a lot this offseason as a potential trade candidate.
“Acquiring a player like Donovan would bump someone like Ernie Clement or Davis Schneider down the infield depth chart, as Donovan presents an upgrade over both incumbents,” Hunter wrote. “The real advantage of getting someone like Donovan is that he hits right-handers well, something neither Clement nor Schneider provides.”
Donovan may not be a household name, but he has been very productive for the Cardinals.
During the 2025 MLB season, the 29-year-old second baseman played in 118 games. He hit 10 home runs to go along with 50 RBI, while also producing a slash line of .287/.353/.422. In the 2024 campaign, he racked up 14 home runs, 73 RBI, and a slash line of .278/.342/.417.
Those numbers would be a nice addition for the Blue Jays. He may not bring the star power that Tucker or Bellinger would have, but he’s still a positive player who could help Toronto compete.
Other Potential Options the Blue Jays Could Look Into
Along with Donovan, Hunter named two other players that the Blue Jays could consider adding via the trade market.
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan was one of the options. He was rumored to be a potential trade candidate before the MLB deadline last year and would be an excellent fit for Toronto.
Last season, Kwan hit 11 home run and tallied 56 RBI. He also slashed .272/.330/.374. While Kwan also isn’t a “star” at the end of the day, he’s a quality player who would provide a boost for the Blue Jays’ outfield.
Xavier Edwards, a shortstop from the Miami Marlins, was also suggested as a fit. He is just 26 years old and hit three home runs to go along with 43 RBI and a .283/.343/.353 slash line in 2025.
Toronto has plenty of directions it could choose to go to improve. It is unknown how aggressive the Blue Jays want to be throughout the remainder of the offseason, but if they choose to pursue another move these three options could make sense.
Expect to hear Toronto connected to many different rumors as the offseason winds down. The Blue Jays took some big swings and missed, but there are still players who could increase the team’s World Series chances.
Blue Jays Urged to Pivot to Intriguing Trade After Free Agency Misses