Blue Jays predicted to trade $10.75 million Gold Glove outfielder at deadline

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The Toronto Blue Jays are approaching the 2026 MLB trade deadline in a very questionable position. Instead of being the postseason contenders they were a year ago, the Blue Jays are at risk of being major sellers this summer.

Sitting 5.5 games back in the AL Wild Card and 11.5 games back in the AL East in last place, the Blue Jays have a real chance to be sellers this season. If they do, a lot of players could be on the move.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale is predicting that the Blue Jays will raise the "white flag" on the 2026 season and trade away Gold Glove-winning $10.75 million outfielder Daulton Varsho as part of a major fire sale.

Blue Jays predicted to trade Daulton Varsho amid fire sale

"The Blue Jays hate to raise the white flag after being just two outs of winning the World Series last year, but they also have to be realistic about their most attractive trade chip," Nightengale writes on Varsho. "Prediction: Going - along with a few of his teammates."

Toronto being sellers this season wouldn't be a huge surprise, as if things don't get any better, the Blue Jays would be well outside of the postseason hunt by the trade deadline.

Nightengle is predicting that, as sellers, the Blue Jays will deal Varsho to a contender by the August 3 trade deadline. Such a future is very much in play for the Blue Jays.

The 30-year-old Varsho is hitting free agency after the 2026 season comes to a close, as he's only under contract for this season on a $10.75 million deal.

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Since he's hitting free agency after 2026, there's very little reason for the Blue Jays to hold onto him through the deadline if they don't see themselves as World Series contenders.

Contending for a World Series this season doesn't look very likely as the Blue Jays are now, so trading Varsho, alongside many others who are also one-year rentals, like Kevin Gausman, would make sense.

The Blue Jays could get something decent for Varsho, as the veteran outfielder, while not having an elite season, is a former Gold Glove-winning center fielder who has a .687 OPS this season and would be a solid option at the deadline for a contender.

While this prediction would not be ideal at all for the Blue Jays, it has a real chance of happening. This season hasn't gone to plan at all for Toronto, and selling players like Varsho, as Nightengale predicts, unfortunately, makes sense.