Toronto Blue Jays: 4 Players Who Should Be Moved at the Trade Deadline

The MLB trade deadline is just over a month away and the Toronto Blue Jays will have an interesting decision to make.

Alex Anthopoulos and the rest of the front office have very limited time to decide whether or not this team can make a run if another player or two is added.

If it is decided that the Blue Jays are not a team capable of competing in the playoffs just yet, then there are several players that Toronto could be looking to move at that deadline. 

Over the next few slides, we will look at four players that the Toronto Blue Jays could be shopping at the trade deadline.

Edwin Encarnacion

One of the Blue Jays biggest surprises this season has been designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion. In 61 games this season, he has already matched the 17 home runs he hit in 2011 and with 44 RBI; he has driven in only 11 less players than last year.

While Encarnacion is currently one of the best players on the Blue Jays roster, he will turn 30 in January and become a free agent following the 2013 season.

With the way he is playing, Toronto should be able to get something respectable for him and they will have Yan Gomes, David Cooper and even Adam Lind to fill the void he would leave.

Kelly Johnson

Another player that Toronto could look to move is second baseman Kelly Johnson, who is on pace to hit over 20 home runs for the third straight season. He is making $6,375,000 this season and is set to become a free agent in the offseason.

There are two situations that would work for both the Blue Jays and Johnson.

1) Johnson steps up his game and Toronto adds a player or two to make a playoff run.

2) Toronto decides to become “sellers.” Johnson still has value and he could be moved to a contending team in exchange for pieces that will benefit the Jays going forward.

If the Blue Jays do indeed become “sellers”, then adding a couple of prospects or a pitcher for a 30-year-old, underachieving second baseman is a good deal on their end.

Rajai Davis

Following a disappointing season in 2011 and a frustrating start to 2012, Rajai Davis has seemingly returned to his old self.

In just 50 games this season, Davis has a .264 batting average with 16 stolen bases, eight of which have come this month.

From Travis Snider to Anthony Gose, Toronto has a ton of young talent in the outfield. Davis is on a hot streak right now and if the Blue Jays continue to hover around the .500 mark, then he should be on the market.

Francisco Cordero

The Blue Jays bullpen can never really catch a break. Over the past two seasons, Alex Anthopoulos has tried to add depth to it, but players like Octavio Dotel, Frank Francisco and Francisco Cordero really haven’t worked out.

Prior to coming to Toronto, Cordero had recorded at least 30 saves in five consecutive seasons and had an ERA of just 2.45 with the Cincinnati Reds in 2011. Unfortunately his time north of the border has not been as good as expected.

At this point, I would take cash or a player to be named later for Cordero. If they can get a prospect or a player for him, then great, but if they are going to be “selling” then he should be gone.