How Blue Jays were 'most improved' team after MLB trade deadline despite selling

The Toronto Blue Jays were trade deadline sellers, shipping off Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs, Jeff Hoffman to the Minnesota Twins, and Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros.

But, they also traded for Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, landing a good controllable starting pitcher. They had one of the more interesting deadlines of any team.

After the deadline, one NL executive and one AL scout told ESPN's Jesse Rogers that the Blue Jays were actually the most improved team from this year's deadline, despite being sellers. While it might seem odd, there's a good reason for this claim.

How Blue Jays were 'most improved' team post-trade deadline despite selling

"I actually think it was the Blue Jays getting Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti," an NL exec said. Backing up that comment, an AL scout responded to the question of which team was the most improved at this year's deadline with a simple answer: "The Blue Jays."

At the 2026 MLB trade deadline, the Blue Jays were the most improved team, as they managed to actually upgrade their roster with the additions of Soriano and Arrighetti.

Varsho wasn't exactly playing well, and while Hoffman had begun to right the ship, he wasn't nearly as valuable as the Blue Jays were hoping he'd be.

Losing Gausman stings, but so far this season, Soriano has actually been better than Gausman. So, they got an upgrade over Gausman with Soriano, added Arrighetti, who is under club control for a while, and moved on from Hoffman and Varsho.

MORE: Cubs land Kevin Gausman in blockbuster trade with Blue Jays

Despite being clear sellers at this year's trade deadline, the Blue Jays still managed to improve their team. While the case that they got better this season might be a little more difficult to make, there's no question that Toronto didn't improve in 2027 and beyond.

It was a great deadline for the Blue Jays, and one that the fan base should be excited about. It might not be fun to see Gausman go, but it was the right move for the future of the franchise.

Besides, they now have Soriano, who's younger, better, cheaper, and under club control through 2028. The 2026 MLB trade deadline was a good one for the Blue Jays, good enough that an AL scout and an NL exec both believe they were the most improved team.

More MLB news:

• Red Sox expected to trade Jarren Duran during offseason, not MLB trade deadline
• What did Mets get for Freddy Peralta? Rays send three prospects for 4.99 ERA SP
• Tigers receive lousy grade for Tarik Skubal trade to Dodgers from ESPN
• How Cubs inadvertently helped Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal
• Royals DFA former Phillies All-Star reliever Matt Strahm after trade deadline