5 Best Blue Jays Trades in Team History

The best trades in Toronto Blue Jays history have often had a transformative impact on the franchise. These deals either elevated the team into contention or provided exceptional value for what was given up. 

Some of these trades immediately led to Blue Jays odds to win the World Series shortening. 

5 Best Toronto Blue Jays Trades

1. Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernández

The Blue Jays gave up an elite hitter in Fred McGriff and a Gold Glove shortstop in Tony Fernández, who had averaged 4.5 bWAR over his last five seasons. 

It was an almighty gamble from the Jays in the 1990-91 offseason, but it paid off in spectacular fashion. 

Roberto Alomar starred in Toronto, averaging 5.8 bWAR per season over his first three years. Joe Carter was a massive threat in the middle of the order, hitting over 30 home runs in each of his first three seasons. 

Alomar and Carter were integral as the Jays made the ALCS in 1991 and won the World Series in 1992 and 1993. It was a high price, but this trade couldn’t have worked out better.

2. Josh Donaldson for Brett Lawrie, Kendall Graveman, Franklin Barreto, and Sean Nolin

The Toronto Blue Jays fleeced the Oakland Athletics for Josh Donaldson in the 2014-15 offseason. Donaldson, who had an 18.9 bWAR across three seasons as a Blue Jay, was acquired for Brett Lawrie, Kendall Graveman, Franklin Barreto, and Sean Nolin. 

Donaldson won AL MVP in his first season as a Jay. Among the baseball odds favourites for the award in his second campaign, the slugging third baseman finished fourth in the voting with a 153 OPS+. 

3. José Bautista for Robinzon Díaz

From his debut in 2004 until the end of the 2007 season, José Bautista had a -2.7 bWAR and an 88 OPS+. He had a 91 OPS+ through 364 plate appearances in 2008. 

I don’t blame the Pittsburgh Pirates for giving up on Bautista. They traded him for a player to be named later, who turned out to be Robinzon Díaz. Díaz had an 80 OPS+ in 43 games as a Pirate, and played his last MLB game at 26 years old. 

Bautista, meanwhile, emerged as a franchise icon in Toronto and became a perennial MVP candidate. 

4. Fred McGriff, Dave Collins, and Mike Morgan for Tom Dodd and Dale Murray

Eighteen months after he was drafted by the New York Yankees, Fred McGriff was traded to the Blue Jays. Dave Collins and Mike Morgan provided less than five bWAR as Jays, while McGriff became one of the sport’s premier hitters.

The lefty still leads the franchise in OPS+, and the top trade on this list wouldn’t have happened without him. 

Averaging 35 home runs per 162 games during his time as a Jay, McGriff might have departed before the World Series wins, but he still has a massive role in the history of the franchise. 

5. Three International Bonus Pool Slots for Chase De Jong and Tim Locastro

Chase De Jong was a second-round pick in 2012. Tim Locastro had been a solid hitter in his first two seasons in the minors. In isolation, trading the pair for three international bonus pool slots seems pretty irrelevant. 

This deal directly helped the Jays to acquire Vladimir Guerrero Jr., however. Toronto acquired an extra $1,071,300 in bonus money and signed Guerrero on the same July day for $3.9 million. 

Locastro amassed 0.6 bWAR in the majors. De Jong had a 78 ERA+ over 72 appearances with four franchises.