Blue Jays Cut Ties With Standout Outfielder Shortly Before Trade Deadline

Jul 31, 2026 05:30 PM - 2 hours ago 1

Toronto Blue Jays extremity of play interviews

The Toronto Blue Jays person spent the days starring up to the waste and acquisition deadline evaluating not only their awesome convention roster but besides the early of respective players passim their workplace system.

While the squad seems poised to waste and acquisition distant immoderate expiring contracts amid a disappointing season, it will almost surely look to compete again adjacent twelvemonth and could effort to bolster its near-term early pinch immoderate acquisitions and promotions.

But arsenic the Blue Jays measure their big-league roster and those prospects knocking astatine the doorway for a promotion, it seems to person mislaid patience pinch 1 standout outfielder who precocious appeared to beryllium approaching a big-league opportunity.

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Last week, the squad released 26-year-old outfielder Je’Von Ward from the organization, according to the charismatic transaction log.

Though the Blue Jays are reassessing their extent arsenic the waste and acquisition deadline approaches, that move was a spot of a astonishment fixed Ward’s pedigree and his caller occurrence successful the minors.

Earlier this season, Ward played six games pinch Double-A New Hampshire earlier earning a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo.

“Since arriving, he’s been a cardinal contributor for the Herd, playing regularly successful correct section and belting 7 location runs,” Brian Frank wrote for The Herd Chronicles. “The 26-year-old believes he’s improved some defensively and astatine the sheet since he joined the Blue Jays organization.”

Ward's operation of power, athleticism and protect versatility had made him an intriguing extent option. And he demonstrated an elite skillset past twelvemonth that put him firmly connected the radar arsenic a standout prospect.

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Ward's diligent violative attack had antecedently attracted nationalist attraction arsenic 1 of the much unsocial hitters successful the insignificant leagues.

“Ward leads the minors pinch a .460 on-base percentage,” JJ Cooper reported for Baseball American past year. “He has played 46 games. And he’s grounded to scope guidelines successful only 9 of those 46 games… He is the astir patient/passive hitter successful the minors. His 30.7% locomotion complaint is by acold the highest successful the minors, arsenic he’s learned to springiness High-A pitchers very small in installments erstwhile it comes to their strike-throwing ability. So far, they person rewarded him for his skepticism.”

That elite strike-zone subject helped Ward look arsenic 1 of the much absorbing under-the-radar players successful Toronto's system, moreover if he yet couldn't unafraid a semipermanent spot successful the organization.

With the waste and acquisition deadline approaching and clubs perpetually searching for knowledgeable upper-level depth, Ward's way grounds could quickly tie liking elsewhere. For the Blue Jays, however, the determination marks different organizational alteration arsenic they proceed adjusting some their insignificant convention strategy and their awesome convention roster heading into the deadline.