Blue Jays make trades with Twins, Pirates, Dodgers
CTV
The Toronto Blue Jays made several deals Tuesday ahead of Major League Baseball's trade deadline.
Toronto Blue Jays' general manager Ross Atkins, coming off one of the busiest trade deadline periods in team history, spoke with the media Tuesday night after putting the finishing touches on a busy day.
The Blue Jays shipped out every pending free agent on their roster in a group that featured Yimi Garcia, Danny Jansen, Nate Pearson, Trevor Richards, Justin Turner, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Kevin Kiermaier and Yusei Kikuchi.
In total, the Blue Jays dealt away eight players over the past six days, each of whom began the season on their MLB roster, and received 14 players in return. Of those 14 players, all but one, reliever Ryan Yarborough, are still considered prospects, and 12 are position players.
Atkins was adamant that this trade deadline did not signal a "rebuild" for the Blue Jays, but rather a "retooling" of sorts.
“Obviously, we did not want to be at this point where we are, trading players away,” said Atkins. “It’s a disappointing time in my career and where we are as an organization. But we switched to getting better and switched to focusing on reshaping the group that is here.”
The GM said that he expects the Blue Jays to compete and contend in 2025 and beyond.
“We acquired players that are strong and physical and dynamic and have the chance to complement us very well."
