The Toronto Blue Jays were clear buyers at the trade deadline last year. They had a division to win and a title to chase, and adding across the roster helped the cause. This year, though, Toronto’s direction isn’t quite as clear with the team still hovering around .500.The Jays enter July amid uncertainty. If they are buyers, they’ll need to reinforce an overused pitching staff and find a bat or two to balance the lineup. If they fall out of the race, a disappointing sale could arrive.Record: 40-45
Record this time last season: 47-38
Standing: 3rd in American League East
Playoff odds entering Monday: 27.9 percent (FanGraphs), 17.4 percent (Baseball Reference)
If the season ended Tuesday: Miss the playoffsBiggest series between now and the deadline: Four games against the Tampa Bay Rays starting July 20. Just over a week before the deadline, Toronto will host a division rival that’s caused trouble in recent years.Current needs: For a team that entered spring with two rotations’ worth of pitchers, starting depth is somehow still a need. General manager Ross Atkins recently singled out the rotation as the club’s most obvious area to address, ideally in the form of an optionable depth arm who can go to Triple A. An outfielder who can hit left-handed pitching could help on the offensive side.
