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The last couple of times the Jays found themselves in a similar position, they didn’t have much to offer. In 2022, Atkins made minor tweaks by acquiring infielder Whit Merrifield along with relievers Mitch White, Anthony Bass and Zach Pop. The following year he added relievers Jordan Hicks, Génesis Cabrera and shortstop Paul DeJong.

The moves didn’t make much of an impact. Merrifield and Hicks assumed regular roles, and the Jays ended up securing a wild-card spot each of those seasons, but they failed to win a game in the playoffs — swept by the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins.

The situation might have been different if Atkins had managed to pull off bigger deals, but he had limited flexibility because of a weak farm system that was depleted by high-profile promotions in 2020 and the trade to acquire José Berríos from the Twins in 2021.

This season figured to be similar until the pipeline started exceeding expectations, just like the big-league club has been since the start of May. Some recent top picks have taken big steps in their development, others returned from injury and there’s more depth, after multiple big leaguers were traded away from a non-competitive team in 2024.

It would be a stretch to say the system has been completely repaired, but there are a lot more candidates to be considered for trade than a year ago. That should give Atkins options to turn his team into a viable contender.

Here’s a closer look at some of the prospects who could find themselves in the rumour mill:

Cream of the crop

SS Arjun Nimmala, RH Trey Yesavage

They are too good to be traded for a rental player. But if a big name with multiple years of control becomes available, these are the players other teams will covet the most. While Nimmala has struggled a bit this season with a .238 average and .740 on-base plus slugging percentage at Class-A Vancouver, he’s only 19 and one of the youngest players in the Northwest League. Yesavage, drafted 20th last year, overmatched hitters at Class-A Dunedin and Vancouver before earning a promotion last month to Double-A New Hampshire. The Jays would prefer to hang on to both, but Atkins moved top prospects Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson to acquire Berríos, so a blockbuster can’t be entirely ruled out.

Ready for the show

OF Joey Loperfido, OF Jonatan Clase, IF Will Wagner, OF Alan Roden, IF Leo Jimenez

The Jays acquired Loperfido, Clase and Wagner at last year’s deadline and they should all be up for grabs. Loperfido got off to a slow start in the minors this season, then turned things around with a .299 average and .811 OPS since May 1 before a recent promotion to the big leagues. Clase flashed upside in 34 games for the Jays earlier this season, while Wagner lost his big-league job in April before returning in late June. Those three plus Roden offer promise, and yet they’re expendable on a team that figures to rely on veterans down the stretch.

Former blue-chip prospects

IF Orelvis Martinez, LH Ricky Tiedemann

They spent a couple of seasons as the Jays’ top prospects, but both have since seen their stocks drop: Martinez because of last year’s suspension for violating MLB’s drug policy, and Tiedemann because of his inability to stay healthy. Martinez’s value has dipped even lower this year with a disappointing .190 average and .653 OPS in Buffalo. Tiedemann tossed just 140 innings from 2022-24 and has yet to throw a pitch this season as he continues to recover from Tommy John elbow surgery. Martinez should be available for a rental, while Tiedemann could be inserted into a package to acquire a bigger name.

Pitching depth

LH Adam Macko, RH Juaron Watts-Brown, LH Kendry Rojas, RH Lazaro Estrada, RH Angel Bastardo

Every noncontender loves to add pitching at the deadline and the Jays have some intriguing names to offer. Watts-Brown, a third-round pick in 2023, is the most promising of the bunch with a 3.24 ERA in 16 starts for Vancouver and New Hampshire. Macko, , has struggled in Buffalo since returning from injury, but at 24 he’s getting closer to making his big-league debut. Estrada flashed potential during a recent one-game stint with the Jays, while Bastardo is getting closer to returning from Tommy John surgery and, as a Rule 5 pick, requires a spot on the big-league roster, which the Jays are unlikely to have available.

Not to be forgotten

RH Landen Maroudis, RHP Khal Stephen, OF Yohendrick Pinango, 3B Charles McAdoo, OF RJ Schreck

When teams sell at the deadline, they typically target prospects who are close to the majors, but some guys further down often get included as the second, third or fourth piece. Stephen, last year’s second-round pick, will generate interest with a 1.76 ERA in 16 appearances for Dunedin and Vancouver. Maroudis, No. 7 per MLB Pipeline, is fully recovered from Tommy John and pitching for Dunedin. Pinango, acquired last year for reliever Nate Pearson, should draw some attention with his .272 average and .857 OPS between New Hampshire and Buffalo. McAdoo, added last year from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Isiah Kiner-Falefa trade, has been a disappointment but has nine homers for New Hampshire, while Schreck was on the rise with a .914 OPS in Double-A before getting hurt. He has returned on a rehab assignment and will soon join Buffalo.