Areas of Need

Trades are likely to happen. All free agent to be's for post 2024 have to be on the market as the Jays try to retool for 2025 - Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Danny Jansen, Trevor Richards, Yimi García (once healthy), Kevin Kiermaier.  But when trading you traditionally go for areas of need (be it immediate or soon) vs the draft/IFA where you take the best available (due to the 5+ year time frame before the player is ready for the majors in most cases, John Olerud an obvious exception).  So it is chart time!

Pos	Current	2024 fWAR	2025 fWAR	2026 fWAR	FA Post	Next in line
C	Danny Jansen	1	2	1.9	2024	Alejandro Kirk
1B	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	1.8	2.9	2.7	2025	Spencer Horwitz
2B	Spencer Horwitz	1.2	1.4	1.4	--	Orelvis Martinez
3B	Isiah Kiner-Falefa	2	0.3	0.1	2025	Addison Barger
SS	Bo Bichette	0.3	3.8	3.3	2025	Leo Jiménez
LF	Daulton Varsho	1.8	2.1	2	2026	Davis Schneider
CF	Kevin Kiermaier	0	1.5	1.1	2024	Daulton Varsho
RF	George Springer	1.2	1.8	1.2	2026	Addison Barger
DH	Justin Turner	0.3	0.7	0.3	2024	???
UT	Alejandro Kirk	0.8	2.9	3	2026
UT	Davis Schneider	0.9	3.2	3.5	--
UT	Ernie Clement	0.2	1.1	0.8	2028
UT	Leo Jiménez	0.1	1.1	1.2	--
PED	Orelvis Martinez	-0.1	1.2	1.6	--
AAA	Addison Barger	-0.7	1.2	1.3	--

Minor leaguers to note: Arjun Nimmala SS/IF ETA 2028, Josh Kasevich 3B 2027, Enmanuel Bonilla RF 2029

Minor leaguers of note: Brandon Barriera ETA 2027, Kendry Rojas 2026, Juaron Watts-Brown 2026, T.J. Brock 2025, Adam Macko 2024

All 'of note' were listed on FanGraphs as 40+ quality, I ignored the rest for this exercise.  Estimated WAR is ZiPS estimates from pre 2024.  The 'next in line' is my guess - for pitchers I went in order of likelihood to be used, not direct replacements as obviously Kikuchi is first to be replaced, not Bassitt (unless a surprise trade happens).  For guys with under 1 years experience I put -- as their expected FA year - it won't be before 2029 for certain (Schneider), and not before 2030 in many cases.

I'm betting many here have strong opinions on who is likely to be next for many positions, what minor leaguers are charging and which are dropping. Who the Jays should trade for, or what they should look for.  My gut is pitching, pitching, pitching. But if quality hitters are there then grab them. This years draft is for guys who will replace Horwitz, Orelvis, Barger, etc. in 5 years, maybe the odd guy who will be ready in 2-3 years but very few get through the system that quickly - July 14th is draft day btw and Cleveland has the first overall pick.