With the Toronto Blue Jays in sell mode ahead of Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, some wondered if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette could also be on the move.
Speaking with reporters after the deadline, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins squashed those rumours.
“Not close,” Atkins said when asked how close Toronto was to trading their two stars. “Was never our intention to try to trade either one of them, and they are absolutely a part of things moving forward.”
Instead, Atkins and the Blue Jays opted to ship out every pending free agent on their roster. In total, Toronto made eight trades sending out eight players and returning 14.
Atkins was adamant that this trade deadline did not signal a rebuild for the Blue Jays, but rather a retooling of sorts.
The GM said that he expects the Blue Jays to compete and contend in 2025 and beyond.
Both Guerrero and Bichette will hit free agency after the 2025 season if they do not agree to a contract extension with the Blue Jays.
There has reportedly been an open dialogue between the Blue Jays and their two young stars in terms of reaching an extension. Of course, nothing has come to fruition, leading many to believe it is more likely the duo will be traded or sign elsewhere when their contracts are up.
However, Atkins thinks Toronto will still be able to re-sign one or both of Bichette and Guererro.
“That opportunity is still there,” he said of extensions in a media availability last week. “It’s not going to happen before the trade deadline, you know a lot of that dialogue doesn’t happen in-season. It would take a lot on both sides for that to happen in this next off-season.
“And certainly, if it doesn’t, then we could obviously have an opportunity to do so in free agency or just before free agency. I still think it’s realistic for that to occur.”
Bichette has struggled in 2024, posting a .233/.284/.336 slash line with four home runs over 68 games this season. He has also struggled with injuries, and is currently on the IL with a calf strain.
After a slow start to the season, Guerrero is red hot as of late and entered Tuesday’s game against the Orioles with home runs in three straight games.
The Blue Jays are 50-57 and with their moves at the deadline, are clearly turning their attention to the 2025 season.
On Tuesday, Atkins called their season “unacceptable” and made a point to apologize to Blue Jays for how things have gone.
