Many thought the MLB home run leader, Jose Bautista, would be traded before the deadline.
With Jose Bautista leading the majors with 31 homeruns and adding 79 RBIs, there were a number of suitors trying to pry the player away from the jays, while the bullpen trio of Scott Downs, Jason Frasor and closer Kevin Gregg also drew the attention of teams around the league.
However, no team was able to match what the Jays expected in return for the players and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos was content to sit back and wait for the draft picks he could get in return if the players leave.
Looking to next season catcher prospect J.P Arencibia looks to make the jump to the big leagues and replace John Buck, while AA will expect Aaron Hill and Adam Lind to rebound from a tough year for both players.
Here’s a recap of the Jays trade action in the days leading up to the deadline:
– Acquired prospect Anthony Gose from the Houston Astros, who had just picked him up in the Oswalt trade, for first-base prospect Brett Wallace
– Acquired Mike Jacobs from the NY Mets on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later. Jacobs will be sent down to Triple-A and is considered a depth player for first-base.
With the roster set until they expand in September, the Jays have a tough schedule facing the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays over the next month.