MLB insider predicts Toronto Blue Jays land Astros star via trade
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The Athletic's Mitch Bannon has a bold prediction on how the Toronto Blue Jays will drastically improve their bullpen in 2026.
During the offseason, general manager Ross Atkins made moves to reinforce the relief corps by bringing in Tyler Rogers and Spencer Miles.
Still, The Athletic's Mitch Bannon believes more reinforcements may be necessary.
He suggests the Toronto Blue Jays could ultimately pursue Bryan Abreu of the Houston Astros, pointing to his power arsenal as a missing element in the Jays’ current bullpen mix.
Bannon notes that while Toronto has several intriguing relief options, the group lacks elite velocity and consistent swing-and-miss ability, areas where Abreu excels.
“If the Jays need a high-leverage arm at the trade deadline (and what competitive team doesn’t?) Abreu, a pending free agent, may be the top option on the market. After sniffing around the top relievers at last year’s deadline, the Jays could make the bullpen splash this summer.”
Abreu is the type of high-leverage reliever the Blue Jays need at the trade deadline
If the Blue Jays find themselves in need of a high-leverage reliever at the trade deadline, Abreu could emerge as one of the most attractive options available, especially with free agency looming after the 2026 season.
After exploring the reliever market at last year’s deadline, Toronto may be poised to make a more aggressive move this time around.
Abreu, who previously avoided arbitration by signing a one-year deal worth $5.85 million, is likely to command a substantial raise on his next contract. His performance in recent years certainly supports that expectation.
Over the past four seasons, he has been one of Houston’s most dependable bullpen arms.
He played a key role in the Astros’ victory in the 2022 World Series, delivering a dominant postseason in which he did not allow a run across more than 11 innings while striking out 19 of the 43 batters he faced.
In 2025, Abreu continued to impress. His four-seam fastball averaged 97.3 mph—slightly higher than the year prior—and he finished the season with a 2.28 ERA and 105 strikeouts over 71 innings.
Meanwhile, much attention will be on current closer Jeff Hoffman in the months ahead.
After an inconsistent 2025 season, any continued ninth inning issues in 2026 could push the Blue Jays to make a significant change at the back end of their bullpen.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 29|141 ANSWERS MLB insider predicts Toronto Blue Jays land Astros star via trade Do you think Bryan Abreu would be a good addition to the Blue Jays bullpen? | ||
| Yes | 118 | 83.7 % |
| No | 23 | 16.3 % |
| List of polls | ||