Toronto Blue Jays’ trade deadline decisions linked to team performance

By Liam Tremblay — 3 August 2026 — 3 min read

Max Scherzer, pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, stated that the team’s performance is responsible for any potential trade deadline decisions by the front office. Scherzer’s comments came after the Blue Jays’ 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, a game in which he delivered his best start of the season, striking out five over six innings while allowing one run.

The Blue Jays’ closer, Louis Varland, gave up four runs, with only one earned, contributing to the loss. This defeat snapped a three-game winning streak for Toronto. The team currently holds a 52-60 record and is positioned fifth in their division, 13 1/2 games behind the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays (65-46). Despite their divisional standing, the Blue Jays are 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot, with the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers ahead of them in the wild-card race.

Trade Deadline Activity

Ahead of the Monday 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Blue Jays made several moves. During their game against the Cardinals, Toronto acquired Canadian right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs. In return, Chicago will receive a player to be named later or cash considerations.

This initial deal with the Cubs set the stage for another trade. The Blue Jays subsequently sent veteran starting pitcher Kevin Gausman to Chicago in exchange for two prospects: outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene. These transactions occurred as the trade deadline approached.

The Los Angeles Dodgers also made a significant move, acquiring two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night. The Tigers received a package of prospects including Zyhir Hope, a 21-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder; River Ryan, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher; and Brady Smith, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher. Hope is hitting .293/.369/.530 with 23 home runs in 94 games at Double-A Tulsa. Ryan, who has an ‘upper 90s’ fastball and a slider, has faced injury setbacks, including Tommy John surgery and a hamstring injury. Smith, who has also undergone Tommy John surgery, has recorded 113 strikeouts in 74.1 innings in A ball.

Player Perspectives and Future Outlook

Scherzer expressed his understanding of the front office’s position, stating, “We have not performed to our capabilities, and now the front office might have to make decisions about our roster because of that.” He added, “If they sell, that’s on us. That’s on us as players that we have not done our job of holding up our end of the bargain and going out there and winning ball games.”

Before the Gausman trade was reported, Scherzer had voiced hope that Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins would maintain the current roster. He emphasized the team’s potential, noting, “We’re only a few games out of this wild card. Anything can happen.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider, speaking after Sunday’s game, indicated he was unaware of any further trades at that moment. He humorously remarked, “As far as I know, everyone’s getting on the plane.” Schneider acknowledged the difficulty for some players but praised the team’s performance during the series.

Scherzer’s recent performance also brought him closer to a career milestone. His five strikeouts on Sunday brought his career total to 3,512. He is now four strikeouts away from surpassing Hall of Famer Walter “Big Train” Johnson for 10th place on the all-time strikeouts list. Johnson played all 21 seasons of his career for the American League’s Washington Nationals, who later became the Minnesota Twins. Johnson won two most valuable player awards, three Triple Crowns, and five ERA titles between 1907 and 1927, helping Washington secure the 1924 World Series.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to begin a three-game series in Houston on Monday, with Shane Bieber (2-2) slated to start.

Source: chch.com