Jays GM Ross Atkins: Trading Guerrero, Bichette “Doesn't Make Sense To Us”

The Blue Jays have won five of their last six games, but still sit below .500 with a 28-30 record, which puts them just a few percentage points behind the Rays in last place in the AL East. As Darragh McDonald put it on the MLBTR team last week, some tough decisions will await the club at the trade deadline, and perhaps in the big picture if the Jays don't start heating up quickly.

Trading or of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette it would be the most seismic move Toronto could make if the team decides to trade at the deadline. The two have been the face of this era of Blue Jays baseball, but with both set to become free agents after the 2025 season, it's unclear whether either player will actually be in Toronto for the long haul — whether it's due to the Jays' overall struggles, or the team's own reluctance to make a major commitment. in finance for players who play inconsistently.

Either way, Jays GM Ross Atkins dismissed the idea of ​​a Guerrero/Bichette trade in an interview today on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, and reiterated that the Blue Jays “they believe in their future and hope there is a way they can play here for a long time.” Regarding possible extensions, Atkins said “we already have a conversation with them” regarding such multi-year agreements, “and that is something that will continue.”

This belief would seem to preclude the idea of ​​Guerrero or Bichette moving at the appointed time. Atkins said “disappointed” in a recent report from MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, who quoted an unnamed AL manager who said Toronto “shouldn't” have moved one of the two cornerstones, and “talked to the teams about it,” even though “the questions were funny.”

Atkins did not deny that some discussions took place with other front offices regarding Guerrero and Bichette, but in the sense that other teams were floating the idea of ​​a trade, not the Jays themselves. Trading for Guerrero or Bichette “it doesn't make sense to us…There will be times when you talk to other managers, when they'll ask if we'll consider it, and we'll say it's not something we've spent any time. Because they are so talented and great team players, they are attractive to other teams, so [others] he will call.”

It is a common practice for managers to evaluate all types of players, simply because the opposing team may be open to moving a player who is not known to be available, or if that player is available in a low position. -expected value. Technically, trading that “it doesn't make sense” at Atkins and the Blue Jays in early June might start to look a lot smarter if the team is still struggling in late July, and the early groundwork laid by an interested suitor could get them to hit Atkins first at the deadline if the Jays do. change direction.

That being said, Atkins expressed confidence that better things are ahead for his team, noting that the two players were hitting better after posting tough numbers in April. Guerrero in particular was hot, hitting .366/.458/475 in 118 plate appearances and 26 games from May 1 to June 1, even if he only scored two runs in that span. Bichette also posted a .318/.356/.471 slash line over his last 90 PA.

Despite producing two stars, the Blue Jays as a whole have continued to struggle to score runs. George Springer continued to struggle, Daulton Varsho has cooled off after a strong April, and improvements from Guerrero and Bichette have been denied Justin TurnerThe bat just got cold in the last month. As a combined team, the Jays are also near the bottom of the league in hits and runners in scoring position.

With offensive production at a premium, the Jays lineup today took an unexpected turn with Guerrero's return to third base. Guerrero made his MLB debut as a third baseman in 2019, but has not played the position since, aside from two late-game cameos at the hot corner.

Atkins said the decision to use Guerrero at third base “something we've been working on collaboratively…and that's another way for us to put out a list that might cause more offense..” The manager John Schneider he said the same thing following today's 5-4 win over the Pirates, telling Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith and other reporters that Guerrero could probably play one of the five or six positions as a third baseman. Turner or Daniel Vogelbach could be used at first or DH, or one of the Jays' two catchers (Danny Jansen or Alejandro Kirk) can get a DH day while another shortstop is lined up and behind the plate.

After Matt Chapman he went out in freedom, Ernie Clement and season signee Isiah Kiner-Falefa split playing time at third base this season, with Turner, Cavan Biggio, Addison Barger, and now Guerrero is getting a few stray appearances. Kiner-Falefa also saw a good chunk of action at second base, and has performed well in this everyday role. Not only is IKF bringing his usual solid defense, but he's also hitting .268/.315/.399 in 182 PA, for what would be a career-high 105 wRC+.