The Toronto Blue Jays are off to a slow start and could end up being sellers at the trade deadline.
Toronto made it to the World Series last season and lost in extra innings in Game 7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. To begin the season, the Blue Jays are off to a slow start, and Toronto is dealing with a plethora of injuries.
If Toronto can’t turn the season around, the Blue Jays could look to trade some pending free agents and recoup some assets. Toronto has dealt plenty of its top prospects to contend, so getting a chance to recoup the system makes sense.
With that, MLB analyst Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report has a trade idea that sees the Blue Jays dealing Kevin Gausman to the Athletics.
Blue Jays acquire:
- LHP Wei-En Lin
- OF Darwing Ozuna
Athletics acquire:
- RHP Kevin Gausman
- Cash
The proposed deal would be a surprising deal, as Gausman is a free agent, so if Toronto does indeed fall out of it, becoming sellers makes sense. Toronto gets two intriguing prospects to help the system and could potentially use them as trade assets in the future.
The Blue Jays would acquire Lin, who’s the Athletics fourth-ranked prospect. Lin is 20-years-old and could reach the MLB in the next year or two and projects to be a solid MLB starter. He could be a key part of Toronto’s rotation for years to come.
Ozuna, meanwhile, is the Athletics’ 28th-ranked prospect, as the outfielder is just 18-years-old and signed as an International Free Agent in 2025. He was the No. 16 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospects list for 2025 and signed with the A’s for $850,000
Analyst Details Blue Jays-Athletics Swap
If Toronto does continue to struggle, the team could be an intriguing seller at the MLB Trade Deadline.
If the Blue Jays do sell, Gausman would be highly sought after, and Reuter believes the Blue Jays would be enticed to get some intriguing prospects for him.
“Financial limitations are always a factor for the Athletics, but the Blue Jays might be willing to eat a significant chunk of the money still owed to Kevin Gausman in the final season of his contract if it means a better prospect return,” Reuter wrote. “Gausman, 35, is still pitching at a frontline level with a 2.42 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and an AL-leading 31 strikeouts in 22.1 innings through four starts. He has a $23 million salary this year in the final season of a five-year, $110 million deal.
“Left-hander Wei-En Lin would immediately become one of the top arms in the Toronto system. The 20-year-old is already pitching at the Double-A level, and with four polished pitches and plus command, he has Top 100 prospect upside. Outfielder Darwing Ozuna is more of a lottery ticket, but an intriguing one with 55-grade raw power who signed for $850,000 as part of the 2025 international class.”
Gausman is a two-time MLB All-Star.
Gausman Noncommittal on Future
Entering the 2026 MLB season, Gausman was in the final year of his contract and could be in his final year as a pro.
Although Gausman is still a stellar pitcher, he admitted he’s considering retirement after this season to spend time with his family.
“I think it’s definitely a possibility,” Gausman said to The Athletic if 2026 could be his last MLB season. “I have really loved my time here. Do I know what’s ahead of me? I don’t really know. No idea. It’s something that I have definitely thought about in the offseason.
“But now that we’re here, I’m just focused on this year. I’m gonna give everything I have for this organization and this team this year. What’s beyond that? I really have no idea.”
For now, Gausman remains the Blue Jays ace and hopes to get Toronto back on track and become a contender again.
Trade Idea Sees Blue Jays Dealing Gausman to AL Club for 2 Top Prospects