The peddling of the Blue Jays’ pending free agents began Friday when Yimi Garcia was jettisoned to the Seattle Mariners.
No one should be surprised by the move, which netted Toronto catcher Jacob Sharp and outfielder Jonatan Clase, one of a handful of deals the Jays are likely to engineer before the trade clock expires Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.
With the 2024 season a complete write-off, every option must be explored to get ready for the 2025 season, knowing not much will change from this season unless the right moves are put in place.
By the opinion of most observers, both Clase and Sharp are prospects with coveted upside, each potentially capable of helping the Blue Jays next season.
As the deck chairs promise to get shuffled in the coming days, there’s a good chance one or both of Clase or Sharp will appear in games for the Blue Jays this season.
A year ago in the minors, Clase hit 20 homers and stole 79 bases.
The best part about Clase is his age. He’s only 22.
According to MLB.com’s prospect rankings, the outfielder was the 10th-best prospect in Seattle’s system.
The switch-hitting Clase made his big-league debut this season, but he struck out far too frequently before he was optioned to the minors.
In his brief time in the show, Clase’s speed stood out.
The book on Sharp isn’t that extensive, but he at least provides the Blue Jays with some organizational depth behind home plate.
Danny Jansen, the Jays’ longest-tenured player, is also a pending free agent.
He has been struggling at the plate.
Garcia was often viewed as one of the best trade assets for the Blue Jays right behind Yusei Kikuchi, the scheduled starter for Friday night’s series opener against the Texas Rangers.
Garcia recently returned from a stint on the injured list following an elbow issue.
In a depleted bullpen, Garcia was hands down the Jays’ best arm, forced to serve in the role of closer.
Ideally, Garcia is best used in a set-up role.
Regardless, he has proven to be effective in high-leverage situations, and he will be welcome in Seattle, where the Mariners have been among MLB’s most active teams leading up to next Tuesday.
Whether it’s Kikuchi to go next, Jansen, Justin Turner, Trevor Richards or even Kevin Kiermaier, whom the Jays put on waivers prior to the all-star break, changes are afoot.
Garcia had been preparing for Friday.
“I was ready for it,” he told reporters at Rogers Centre. “We packed everything.”
At least he’ll get to appear in games of consequence for the Mariners as the Blue Jays’ inconsequential season continues.