Even after final night time’s 9-2 drubbing of the Yankees, the Blue Jays sit six video games under .500. They’re on the backside of the AL East with a 37-43 document and have three groups between them and the Royals — the present holder of the American League’s remaining playoff spot.

It’s definitely not the place the Jays anticipated to seek out themselves on the season’s midway level. Toronto had received between 89 and 92 video games in every of the previous three seasons and has gotten to the postseason in three of the final 4 years. They need to be squarely of their aggressive window.

That units the Jays up as one of many extra fascinating pivot groups over the subsequent month. They’re not desirous to promote, however they’re working low on time to play their manner again into the playoff combine. Toronto is 6.5 again within the Wild Card race. Any hope they’d of successful the division coming into this 12 months has lengthy since disappeared.

GM Ross Atkins acknowledged the group’s precarious place when he spoke with the Toronto beat earlier than Thursday’s win. “We’ve clearly put ourselves into a troublesome spot during the last seven days,” Atkins mentioned (hyperlink by way of Keegan Matheson of MLB.com). “Ten days in the past, we had been feeling like there was constructive momentum, and that has gone away.”

Jeff Passan of ESPN wrote earlier this week that the Jays weren’t but keen to make key gamers accessible in commerce. Atkins advised equally in his feedback on Thursday, saying the entrance workplace’s “focus is on the 2024 group.” Whereas the GM acknowledged that any choice additionally entails consideration of the long run, he pointed to the group’s funding in each payroll and prospect capital on this roster. “We’ll proceed to try this till it doesn’t make sense to take action any extra,” he added.

That naturally raises the query of when the entrance workplace may resolve they don’t have any alternative however to show their focus towards the long run. That’ll largely rely on how issues play out within the subsequent 4 to 5 weeks — each in Toronto and round the remainder of the American League. “The approaching days are exceptionally necessary to us, and understanding the market can be exceptionally necessary to us in both manner,” Atkins mentioned (by way of Matheson). “We’re targeted on successful. We’re targeted on constructing the very best group we are able to this 12 months and supporting them the perfect we are able to. If we get to a degree the place we have to alter, we’ll be ready to take action.”

Toronto isn’t distinctive in that regard. There are solely 5 or 6 (relying on one feels in regards to the Tigers) groups who appear to be clear-cut sellers at this level. But there aren’t many extra who can really feel safe about their possibilities of attending to the postseason. Upwards of half the groups within the league may resolve their deadline path primarily based on how they carry out in July. Numerous golf equipment may additionally attempt to straddle the road by offloading some veterans whereas on the lookout for speedy assist in different areas of the roster.

The Jays have a extra established roster than most of these fringe groups. Toronto has doubtlessly impactful commerce candidates with various ranges of membership management. Neither Danny Jansen nor Yusei Kikuchi has performed properly in current weeks, but they’d each began the season fairly properly. Jansen is the highest impending free agent catcher, whereas Kikuchi could be one of many extra gifted rental beginning pitchers in the marketplace if the Jays made him accessible.

Yimi García is pitching properly and could be an easy goal for groups in search of veteran bullpen assist if he’s wholesome by the deadline.  (He went on the injured checklist with elbow neuritis two weeks in the past.) Justin Turner and Kevin Kiermaier are having disappointing seasons. Whereas the Jays would most likely must kick in money to facilitate trades of both participant, they may get calls primarily based on their pre-2024 observe information.

Issues would grow to be extra fascinating if the Jays significantly thought-about transferring key gamers who’re beneath management past this season. That may signify an even bigger reset than merely buying and selling leases. There’s an argument for doing so if the Jays can’t claw again into competition over the subsequent few weeks. Toronto has a handful of gamers who’re in or on the again finish of their primes. They’ve bought dwindling management home windows on franchise faces Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, every of whom are slated free of charge company after the 2025 marketing campaign. Bichette will make $16.5MM subsequent season, whereas Guerrero goes to be due a noteworthy increase on this 12 months’s $19.9MM wage.

Atkins bluntly shot down the notion of buying and selling both star hitter earlier this month. That presumably received’t cease groups from calling to gauge whether or not the Jays are keen to rethink. Bichette himself instructed Hazel Mae (X hyperlink) that he wouldn’t be shocked if the Jays moved him, although that’d presumably change if the group performs its manner again into competition.

Guerrero is amidst arguably the second-best offensive season of his profession. He’s hitting .289/.370/.447 throughout 351 plate appearances. Whereas he hasn’t hit for a similar stage of energy he did in 2021-22, Guerrero has the second-highest common and on-base mark of his profession. Bichette hasn’t carried out to his ordinary commonplace, working a personal-worst .232/.282/.333 slash line over 287 journeys. Whereas that’d arguably make this summer season an inopportune time to maneuver him, Bichette would absolutely nonetheless draw ample consideration if the Jays put him in the marketplace. There aren’t many on a regular basis shortstops who appear prone to be accessible.

Past that duo, the Jays have a handful of controllable gamers who may generate calls, significantly on the pitching facet. Jordan Romano has spent the previous month on the injured checklist with elbow irritation. He’s a two-time All-Star nearer who’s beneath arbitration management by way of subsequent season, although. Romano not too long ago resumed throwing from 120 toes on flat floor (by way of the MLB.com damage tracker). Chris Bassitt is making $22MM this season and subsequent. He turned in a 3.60 ERA over 33 begins a 12 months in the past and has labored to a 3.45 mark with first rate strikeout and stroll numbers over 91 1/3 innings. Buying and selling Kevin Gausman, who’s beneath contract by way of 2026, nonetheless appears unlikely until the entrance workplace kicks off a extra vital reboot.

If the Jays carry out the way in which they’re hoping over the subsequent month, including to the bullpen and deepening the lineup could be the probably priorities. The Romano and García accidents — paired with Erik Swanson’s struggles — have contributed to the Jays working out one of many least constant reduction teams within the majors. The underside half of the lineup hasn’t carried out as much as expectations both. That’s largely because of underperformance from the likes of Bichette, Turner, Kiermaier and George Springer. The Jays additionally entered the season with questions at second and third base. They’ve plugged rookie Spencer Horwitz into common motion on the keystone whereas free agent signee Isiah Kiner-Falefa (who has considerably quietly impressed with a .283/.333/.402 displaying) has gotten the majority of the third base reps.