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Top Prospect Arjun Nimmala Shipped to Angels in Major Trade
The Toronto Blue Jays are trading top infield prospect Arjun Nimmala, along with outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-handed pitcher Angel Rivero, to acquire starting pitcher Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Nimmala is the clear top return in this package for the Angels. Per MLB.com, the shortstop currently sits as the No. 46 overall prospect in the sport and was the No. 2-ranked prospect in the Toronto system ahead of the trade. In 2026, the former 20th overall selection has split most of his time between High-A and Double-A. After logging 23 games at High-A, Nimmala was given the green light to join Double-A New Hampshire, where he has posted a sharp .279/.355/.451 line with nine doubles, four home runs and four stolen bases. Dynasty managers should keep a close eye on Nimmala's progression as he should contend for an early call-up to Triple-A in 2027, which could open the door for a second-half MLB debut.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Jose Soriano Traded to Blue Jays
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Los Angeles Angels traded starting pitcher Jose Soriano to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for top infield prospect Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti, and right-handed pitcher Angel Rivero. Even though the Blue Jays opted to part ways with veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman on Sunday evening, they are keeping the door open to potentially compete as a Wild Card team in 2026 by adding a piece to their rotation. Soriano has enjoyed a strong season in Los Angeles, logging 123 innings to the tune of a 3.29 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. His 11.2% walk rate has inflated his ratios but has managed to generate a high-end 31.4% whiff rate with a 24.9% K%. In return, the Blue Jays are sending their No. 2-ranked prospect Nimmala, who currently rises at Double-A, alongside Micheletti and Rivero, who both sit outside the top-30 prospects in their system on MLB Pipeline.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Blue Jays Acquire Shortstop Prospect Ty Southisene From Cubs
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired shortstop prospect Ty Southisene and outfield prospect Brett Bateman from the Chicago Cubs on Sunday in exchange for veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. The 21-year-old Southisene is already ranked as Toronto's No. 17 prospect after hitting a combined .311/.431/.378 with an .809 OPS, zero home runs, 35 RBI, 31 stolen bases, and 58 runs in 65 games (314 plate appearances) with Single-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend in 2026. The 21-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 stands at only 5-foot-7, 170 pounds and is extremely patient at the plate and makes a lot of contact. His power is virtually non-existent, though, making him primarily a stolen base asset who is likely a year or two away from a potential MLB debut. Bateman, 24, is now Toronto's No. 20 prospect. The former eighth-rounder in 2023 from the University of Minnesota hit .312/.431/.422 with an .853 OPS, three homers, 33 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 58 runs in 81 games for Triple-A Iowa before the trade. Although Bateman is left-handed, he has a very similar profile to Southisene in that he lacks any real power upside and features plus-plus speed on the basepaths.
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Kevin Gausman Traded to Cubs, Adds Veteran Presence to Rotation
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman was traded to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday in exchange for minor-league infielder Ty Southisene and outfielder Brett Bateman, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Gausman has taken a slight step back this season following a strong 2025 campaign, posting a 4.38 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 23 starts. Even so, the 35-year-old still provides an experienced presence in the middle of a playoff rotation and owns a career 3.85 ERA behind one of baseball's best splitters. Gausman is also coming off a strong outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings, as the Cubs continue to strengthen their rotation for the stretch run.
Source: Ken Rosenthal
Source: Ken Rosenthal
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Back After One-Game Absence
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Guerrero left Tuesday's loss to Washington after feeling tightness in his right hamstring while reaching first base and turning toward second on an infield single. He sat out Wednesday before Toronto's scheduled off-day Thursday. The 27-year-old returns with a .264 batting average, six home runs, 44 RBI, seven stolen bases, and a .700 OPS this season. Fantasy managers can get Guerrero back into their lineups immediately.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kevin Gausman Among Blue Jays Veterans Who Could Fit Phillies
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman is among several available veterans who could fit the Philadelphia Phillies' trade-deadline needs, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Philadelphia is looking for rotation depth, a late-inning reliever, and another bat. Starting pitcher Shane Bieber, relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman, designated hitter George Springer, and center fielder Daulton Varsho were also mentioned as possible fits. The clubs share a spring-training complex in Florida, giving Toronto's front office familiarity with Philadelphia's prospects. Morosi did not report that talks involving any individual player were advanced. For now, the trade speculation does not change the fantasy value of any of the five Blue Jays.
Source: Jon Morosi
Source: Jon Morosi
JoJo Parker Stays Hot At Single-A Dunedin in Age-19 Season
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop prospect JoJo Parker is coming off a multi-homer game at Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday night, adding to his very respectable numbers this season as a 19-year-old. In 301 at-bats at Dunedin, Parker has 11 homers, 56 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases, while hitting .243. Despite his youth, Parker is the top prospect in the Blue Jays' system. The 21 steals show that he has five-category potential in fantasy, making him a very promising prospect. He will need to improve upon the batting average a little bit, but he still has time to make adjustments. The first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Parker is a left-handed hitter who was given a 60-grade hit tool, a 55-grade power, and a 50-grade run tool. Parker will need to show off more of his skills at Double-A and Triple-A before he likely makes his big-league debut. However, at age 19, Parker is off to a great start.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Not Expected to Play on Wednesday
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) is not expected to be in the team's lineup on Wednesday after he was removed early from Toronto's loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday with right hamstring tightness, per Ian Quillen of MLB.com. It's not yet clear whether Guerrero Jr. will require a trip to the injured list, but resting him on Wednesday will give the 27-year-old two full days off before Toronto's next series against the St. Louis Cardinals begins on Friday. It's been a nightmare season so far for Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .265/.345/.357 with six home runs, 44 RBI, 55 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 435 plate appearances. His barrel rate is down from 12.2% in 2025 to 6.7% this season, and his hard-hit rate has dropped from 50.7% to 43.8%. With Guerrero Jr. out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, Blue Jays regular third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has moved across the diamond to cover first base, with utility infielder Ernie Clement getting the start at third.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Quillen
Source: MLB.com - Ian Quillen
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Leaves Tuesday's Game With Hamstring Tightness
The Toronto Blue Jays announced that first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) left Tuesday night's game early against the Washington Nationals with tightness in his right hamstring. Guerrero went 1-for-2 at the plate before being replaced at first base by Kazuma Okamoto. It's not the first time this year that the 27-year-old has dealt with a hamstring issue, but hopefully it's nothing serious and he's just day-to-day. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if Vladdy is back in Toronto's starting lineup against Washington. The six-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner has been one of the most disappointing big-name starts in baseball in 2026, as he entered Tuesday's action slashing just .264/.344/.356 with a career-low .700 OPS, six home runs, 44 RBI, 54 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 102 games across 433 plate appearances. Guerrero's power has noticeably been absent, and a turnaround doesn't appear to be imminent. Health could be a major reason, as the Canadian native has dealt with nagging issues off and on. In 21 games in July going into Tuesday's game against Washington, Guerrero was hitting .250 (20-for-80) with two homers, five doubles, 10 RBI, nine runs, and one steal in 90 plate appearances.
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Max Scherzer to Start on Monday
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb, back) will be activated off the Injured List on Monday. Scherzer will return to the mound to face his former team, the Washington Nationals. The right-hander has been out since the middle of June due to back and thumb issues. He pitched well during his most recent outing with Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays are hopeful for better results than they got from the 41-year-old earlier in the season. Through six starts, Scherzer owns a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, and a 14/11 K/BB ratio across 22 innings of work. Maybe there is some deep league value here, but Scherzer can be left on the waiver wire in most fantasy formats right now.
Source: Keegan Matheson
Source: Keegan Matheson
Dylan Cease Continues All-Star Season With Complete-Game Shutout
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease had a phenomenal outing on Saturday night in the team's 6-0 shutout win over the division-rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, as he threw a complete-game shutout with just one hit allowed, three walks, and 12 strikeouts to pick up his seventh victory of the year and lower his season ERA to 2.46. It was Cease's third career complete game, and it took him 120 pitches to finish the masterful outing. It's been an amazing season for Cease in his first year in Toronto, and he has unbelievably allowed just one hit in two of his last three starts. He is chugging right along with four straight quality starts in July, and he now has a 1.09 WHIP with a league-high 167 strikeouts and 48 walks in 113 1/3 innings on the season. Cease joined only Nolan Ryan as the second pitcher to allow no more than one hit while pitching at least eight innings and striking out at least 10 in back-to-back road starts. He'll obviously be a must-start in his next scheduled outing next week against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Arjun Nimmala Producing in Injury Interrupted Season
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala has dealt with a right-hamstring strain this season, but he has been able to produce in limited at-bats across four levels of the minors. Back with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Nimmala has racked up three homers and five RBI in just seven games. The 20-year-old shortstop has been hot since rejoining New Hampshire and has found some of his 60-grade power. The Blue Jays' No. 2 overall prospect still has some development to do in the minors before he becomes fantasy relevant, but if he continues to produce at Double-A, he could be looking at a Triple-A promotion before the end of the year. More of a dynasty league play at this point, it is worth tracking Nimmala's development because he has major potential to be an eventual producer at the big league level and thus a fantasy contributor.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Andres Gimenez Showing Slight Power Growth, Still a Limited Fantasy Option
In his second year with the Toronto Blue Jays, middle infielder Andres Gimenez has shown a slight improvement at the plate, slashing .231/.275/.361 as the season enters the second half. Those numbers still sit below his career averages, and he has struggled recently, hitting .205 with a .256 slugging percentage over his last 15 games. The 27-year-old has already matched his home run total from last season, offering a modest increase in power production. However, his 3.4 Barrel% remains well below league average, limiting his offensive upside. While the extra power is encouraging, Gimenez still profiles as a low-ceiling fantasy option and is unlikely to provide much more than modest production for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Max Scherzer Throws Bullpen Session on Sunday
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (back, thumb) was able to throw a successful bullpen session on Sunday. Scherzer recently had a rehab assignment paused last week. He received three cortisone injections in his right thumb, but is back to throwing the ball fairly quickly. He landed on the Injured List in mid-June due to back spasms. He suffered an injured thumb while rehabbing, but is hopeful to get back on the mound soon. The hope is that Scherzer can rejoin the Jays' starting rotation at some point in August. When healthy, Scherzer has been awful with a 10.23 ERA across six starts this season. Fantasy managers shouldn't wait around and hope the 41-year-old still has something left in the tank.
Source: Keegan Matheson
Source: Keegan Matheson
Max Scherzer has Rehab Stint Paused
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (back, thumb) was recently pulled off his rehab assignment. The veteran right-hander recently received three cortisone injections in his injured thumb during the All-Star break. Scherzer was rehabbing the back injury that landed him on the Injured List last month. He re-injured his hand during his most recent rehab start on Wednesday. Scherzer is aiming to throw the ball this weekend. If that goes well, Scherzer should resume his rehab assignment shortly. It doesn't sound like Scherzer is nearing a return to the Jays' rotation anytime soon. The 41-year-old got smacked around to the tune of a 10.23 ERA when he was healthy this season. Fantasy managers in all formats are better off looking for a replacement at this point.
Source: Arden Zwelling
Source: Arden Zwelling
