MLB Trade Rumors: Teams Would Have to 'Bowl Over' Blue Jays for Guerrero Jr., More

The Toronto Blue Jays are open for business ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, but it reportedly will take a monumental offer to convince them to trade away any of their star players.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, "since the Blue Jays plan to keep the door open on contending in 2025, prying away the likes of Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be extremely difficult." It was noted that the Blue Jays "aren't shopping those players or the injured Bo Bichette," and for interested teams "to acquire someone like Guerrero Jr., they'd have to bowl the Blue Jays over."

Despite having such a talented crop of players, Toronto ranks last in the AL East with a 45-55 record. Still, it sounds like the team is hoping to avoid a rebuild, so it would be a surprise to see it give up a top player in exchange for future assets.

While the team has struggled to find consistency, Guerrero is still performing at a high level. The 25-year-old leads the Blue Jays with a .293 batting average, 17 home runs, 60 RBI, 113 hits, 41 walks and a .841 OPS. Trading for him would require a substantial return, so Nicholson-Smith noted, "The safe guess is that doesn't happen."

As for the players Toronto is willing to trade, Nicholson-Smith predicted that the chances of starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and reliever Yimi Garcia being dealt away are "extremely high." Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, designated hitter Justin Turner and reliever Trevor Richards were also considered to be "available."

The Blue Jays appear to have accepted the reality that a second-half comeback isn't in the cards, so it will be interesting to see how they approach the trade deadline.

Toronto will be in action on Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second game of their three-game series.