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While there are rumours every day about the potential of stars like Roy Oswalt, Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn and Dan Haren being moved at the MLB non-waiver trade deadline, there are a number of players on the Toronto Blue Jays roster that also appear to be getting interest from other clubs.
The player that seems to getting the most looks is Jose Bautista, who hit his major league-leading 26th home run on Tuesday night.
ESPN the Magazine's Buster Olney reported on his blog Wednesday that, according to rival executives, the Jays are looking for elite prospects in return for the versatile Bautista.
Olney goes on to explain that some of those rival executives believe that the Jays really want to deal Bautista and that the price tag will in fact lower as the deadline approaches; they're thinking the Jays would not be willing to pay the $10-12 million arbitration award for one season that the 29-year would likely receive.
53% of baseball fans in our TSN.ca poll said they would rather see the Jays keep Bautista rather than dealing him.
In terms of interest from other teams, not far behind Bautista would be relief pitcher Scott Downs.
The 34-year old left-hander has been very good this season, posting a 3-5 record with a 2.52 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and a 3.75 strikeout to walk ratio. Downs has also held opposing batters to a .222 average, and will become a free agent at the end of the season.
"He's the best lefty reliever on the market, I think they'll get something good for him," one scout told the Toronto Sun. "It won't be us. They want too much."
There have been reports that the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Phillies are among the clubs looking at Downs.
Staying in the bullpen, Downs isn't the only reliever who is reportedly available. Jason Frasor, who is also in the last year of his contract, and fellow reliever Kevin Gregg are also believed to be on the market, with Yahoo! Sports recently reporting that the Dodgers were among the teams interested in their services.
Behind the plate, the Jays have All-Star John Buck, who like Downs is also a free agent at the end of the season, and seems to be on the market.
The 29-year old is hitting .275 this season with 14 home runs. While he's been good at the plate, Buck has also been solid behind it, throwing out 24% of potential base stealers.
It was reported in the Toronto Sun that the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox are teams that have recently scouted Buck.
As well as he has played, the Jays might want to give Triple-A catcher J.P. Arencibia a look in the majors. The 24-year old is tearing up the offence-friendly Pacific Coast League to the tune of a .321 batting average with 28 home runs.
First baseman Lyle Overbay is also a free agent at the end of the season, but with big name players like Dunn and Fielder reportedly on the block, the trade market for Overbay appears yet to have materialized at this point.
Regardless of how many – if any - of these Blue Jays players get dealt, the next week or so should be interesting for their fans.
