The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t make the biggest splashes of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, but the club’s litany of moves is drawing major praise from around the league.
In an ESPN survey of rival front offices, an unnamed National League executive and an anonymous American League scout tabbed the Blue Jays as the team that improved the most at the deadline.
Toronto added right-handers Spencer Arrighetti and Jose Soriano from the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels, respectively. The club landed prospects Dasan Hill, John Klein and Damuery Pena from the Minnesota Twins for reliever Jeff Hoffman. Longtime ace Kevin Gausman was sent to the Chicago Cubs for prospects Ty Southisene and Brett Bateman.
The combination of moves allowed the Blue Jays to thread the needle between buying and selling. The organization added to the rotation and restocked a farm system that sent out top prospect Arjun Nimmala in the Soriano deal. “The Blue Jays getting Jose Soriano was creative and somewhat unexpected,” a rival scout told ESPN when asked about the best deal of the deadline. “Helps them backfill Kevin Gausman for the rest of this year while adding controllable impact going forward.”
Toronto Blue Jays Trade Deadline Grade: High Praise from Insiders Around the League
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 26: José Soriano #59 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on July 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Blue Jays failed to follow up last year’s run to the 2025 World Series with another contending season. The team is dead last in the AL East standings with a record of 54-61. Toronto all but eliminated itself from the playoff race by losing seven of 10 games to open the second half. The downturn led to being sellers at the trade deadline, with veterans Hoffman, Gausman, and Daulton Varsho shipped out to likely playoff teams.
General manager Ross Atkins didn’t rip the roster down to the studs, though. Instead, he stacked assets for the 2027 season. Gausman is a pending free agent who was likely to be departing anyway. Soriano steps into his rotation spot. The righty has a solid 3.29 ERA through 22 starts with the Angels this season. Soriano allowed just one earned run over his first six outings of the year, including five zeroes against the Blue Jays back in April. He’s come back to earth since then, but the overall stat line is still strong.
Arrighetti gives the club a shot at another viable rotation option next season. The young righty is currently dealing with a foot injury. Once he’s healthy, he’ll hop into a rotation that includes Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce next year.
Blue Jays Have Center Field Vacancy to Fill
The only drawback to Atkins’ deadline approach was removing a standout defender from center field. With Varsho heading to Houston in the Arrighetti trade, the team is thin on options moving forward.
Myles Straw has an $8 million club option for 2027. It’s not an insignificant cost for a glove-first option already in his early 30s. The outfielders under contract next year include Nathan Lukes, Jesus Sanchez, Addison Barger, and Anthony Santander. None of them are true center fielders. Atkins has some work to do at the position this offseason. A reunion with Varsho could be in the cards.
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