Trade Deadline Can 'Add Some Life' to Blue Jays Clubhouse

Blue Jays players discuss how MLB trade deadline additions can add energy to a clubhouse and help a playoff push.

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Rays rarely make big trade deadline splashes.

During Kevin Kiermaier’s 10 seasons in Tampa, the deadline adds were mostly tweaks around the edges — a rental lefty reliever, maybe a new corner outfielder. But in 2021, the Rays made a rare splash, sending two prospects to the Twins for veteran slugger Nelson Cruz.

Cruz was coming off 19 homers in the first half of that season, leading the Twins with a .907 OPS. He was a lineup-transforming addition for a team embroiled in a playoff-seeding slugfest. When Cruz joined his new team, the Rays' clubhouse was buzzing. It was "a lift," Kiermaier said.

"It was like man, as the Rays we don’t get premier guys like that," Kiermaier said. "So it was a big deal to all of us. We’re all in and we’re actually going for it."

Kiermaier's new team in Toronto sits in a similar spot to that '21 Rays squad. They've played well, but with flaws. They're in the playoffs, but not leading the division. And the Jays haven't yet ripped off a lengthy hot streak when everything clicked. With days before the 2023 trade deadline, the Blue Jays could use a similar lift.

“I love where our clubhouse is at, we’re in a great position," Kiermaier said. "But if we’re in a position where we want to bring a couple guys in to make this even better, and it makes sense, I’m all for it.”

During George Springer's time with the Astros, splashy deadline adds became the norm. Houston brought in Justin Verlander midseason in 2017, future closer Ryan Pressly in 2018, and Zack Greinke in 2019 — each year providing an already competitive team with a little extra deadline juice. After snagging Greinke from the Diamondbacks in '19, the Astros rattled off a 38-15 finish to the season and ran away with the AL West.

“Any time a big acquisition gets made for any team you know it can add some life in a locker room," Springer said."Can make you play a little, just a tiny bit harder.”

But, there are two sides to the deadline. And half the energy of being a buyer is the fact that you're not selling. In Kiermaier's rookie season, he watched the Rays trade away franchise legend David Price.

“It’s an amazing feeling when you’re in a position where you want to make upgrades," Kiermaier said. "Because when you’re selling and you got no real hope for the playoffs, it’s not fun.”

Selling also means anxiety for veterans on losing teams, a reality of unknowns Whit Merrifield faced last season. The long-time Royals infielder/outfielder spent the days before the deadline wondering if he'd get traded and where. With minutes ahead of the buzzer, Merrifield joined Toronto, swapping cities and clubhouses for the first time in his MLB career.

The Jays are fortunate to be on the (potentially) energizing side of the deadline. On Tuesday, Toronto's home clubhouse will be full of players watching television tickers and checking Twitter instead of wondering if they're packing boxes and moving families. But ultimately, it's the moves that come on Tuesday that'll decide just how jolting the Blue Jays' 2023 deadline will be.

“Obviously there’s a good energy right now," Merrifield said. "And whoever we get is gonna come and help us get better. That's never a bad thing."