The Toronto Blue Jays had high hopes for this season, but things haven't gotten off to a good start. The Blue Jays are currently just 24-29 on the year, as the offense struggles to string together consistent quality at bats.
Toronto hitters are especially struggling early in games. In fact, the Blue Jays have now gone 20 consecutive games without scoring in the first inning – a team record, per Sportsnet Stats.
While the Blue Jays did win four of five last week, they have a significant hole to climb out of after losing eight of 10 in late April/early May.
While Vlad Guerrero Jr. has improved after a slow start, Bo Bichette and George Springer have disappointed Blue Jays fans with their poor offensive output.
Since joining the Blue Jays in 2021, Springer has been a great player but a step below the kind of outfielder he was with the Astros. In his first three years in Toronto, Springer's OPS sat at .798 — down from .852 in Houston — while his power numbers also experienced a slight but noticeable decline.
But what was a modest recession has turned into a freefall this year for the Blue Jays outfielder. Springer has an OPS of .570 through 47 games. He also has just 11 RBI this season. This is a massive drop-off for a player averaging 92 runs batted in per 162 games in his career entering this season and is a major reason the Blue Jays are 27th in MLB in runs scored.
The Jays recently dropped Springer from the leadoff spot, putting him sixth in the batting order. But if the veteran outfielder does not improve soon, he might not see his name on the lineup card at all.
Should the Blue Jays look to sell at the deadline?
When looking at players the Blue Jays could end up trading, names like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette stick out as names that could get significant hauls at the deadline. However, this would signal a full rebuild for Toronto, and it is unknown if that is palatable for the front office or ownership.
Guerrero Jr. is under control through the 2025 season, then will become a free agent, while Bichette is under contract through the 2026 season. Both players would require a significant haul.
Other players like Jordan Romano could be put on the block as well. If the Blue Jays really wanted to reset, they could even look to move off of pitcher Kevin Gausman. After an excellent season last year, Gausman's numbers are a little more pedestrian this season – though he has won three consecutive decisions. He's currently 3-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 10 starts for Toronto this season.
The next month or so could determine the long-term future of the Blue Jays as we approach the July 30 trade deadline.
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