For now, the Toronto Blue Jays give little indication that they intend to trade potential free agents such as designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion and second baseman Kelly Johnson.

To the contrary, the Jays continue to maintain a buyer’s posture, sending multiple scouts to at least two recent starts by Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez’s and maintaining contact with the Cubs about right-hander Matt Garza, according to major-league sources.

At the moment, the Jays are a .500 club, 8 1/2 games back in the AL East, 3 1/2 games back for the second wild card. Reading their intentions is difficult because they employ the most scouts in the majors and because general manager Alex Anthopoulos gauges the value of virtually every player available.

Still, Rodriguez or Garza could fit for the Jays even if the Jays decide that serious contention is unlikely this season. Anthopoulos prefers to trade for players who are under club control for more than one season, rival executives say.

Rodriguez is under contract for $10 million this season and $13 million next season with a $13 million option for 2014.

Garza is earning $9.5 million this season and is eligible for one more year of salary arbitration before becoming a free agent after next season.

— Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi