The midseason trade deadline passed this past Tuesday at 6pm EDT and lots happened. Some highlights include Jazz Chisholm Jr. getting traded to the Yankees, Randy Arozarena getting traded to the Mariners, and the Cubs and Rays swapping Christopher Morel and Isaac Paredes. As I watched the trades go down I saw many interesting trades, but the team who made the most questionable(in my mind idiotic) trades were the Blue Jays, so let’s take a look at some of the dumber trade decisions they made.

• Trading Danny Jansen to the Red Sox in exchange for 3 minor league players: While I am excited for the Red Sox for landing Jano this trade really confused me for many reasons. While Jano is a solid addition to the Red Sox with a strong defensive offering, average of .224 and OPS of .689, he wasn’t a necessary addition. Jano plays catcher so with this trade we had three pitchers. Since then the Red Sox sent Reese McGuire to the minors, but Jansen is not crazy better than McGuire. On the Blue Jays side this was just plain stupid. The Blue Jays rely mainly on Jano for catching and their other option is Alejandro Kirk who has similar stats but can’t run. Unlike Jano you won’t see Kirk stealing any bases or getting waved around 3rd base on any close calls. I understand the Blue Jays aren’t doing well and may be just setting themselves up for a rebuilding year, but giving away their best catcher is not a bright idea
• Trading Yimi García to the Mariners for two minor league pitchers: Yimi played as a solid reliever for the Jays with an average of 2.45 this season, significantly better than his career ERA of 3.51. Why the Blue Jays would choose to trade him in one of his best years really beats me
• Trading Justin Turner to the Mariners for a minor league outfielder: Justin Turner played a fill in role for the Blue Jays. While the Blue Jays had a better first baseman in Vladdy and a better third baseman in Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, Turner played a key role in filling in for both of these players with injuries or days off. I will also get into it below but the Jays also traded away IKF, leaving them with no third baseman so I’m quite unsure of the idea behind this
• Trading Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and cash considerations to the Pirates for a minor league third baseman: this was just straight idiotic. IKF has been a trusty utility man, primarily playing third base, with a .292 average and .758 OPS. Why he would be traded for a minor league prospect who by definition is significantly less trustworthy, I have no idea

Overall, the decisions the Blue Jays made were unsmart. Trading Kevin Kiermaier also stabbed my heart, though that decision had some reason to it as they acquired a decent pitcher from the Dodgers in return. I am interested to see how the season shakes up for all the MLB teams with this interesting trade period.