Blue Jays GM has no interest in entertaining trade offers for star players

The Toronto Blue Jays entered play on Sunday in last place in the American League East. That disappointing result has prompted rival teams to make calls to general manager Ross Atkins regarding the potential availability of stars infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette. 

Atkins said on Sunday that despite those calls he has zero interest in moving either player at this point and that it would not make any sense for him to do so. 

"Of course, we have dialogue with them, and that is something that will continue," Atkins told MLB Network Radio, via ESPN. "We believe in them. We believe in their futures and hope that there is a way they can play here for a long time."

"I just don't believe in changing to change, or change for the sake of trying something different," Atkins continued. "We have to be better. I do not feel that [manager[ John Schneider has been anything but part of the solution, and will continue to be."

There are a lot of reasons why it does not make sense for the Blue Jays to entertain trade offers on either player at this point. 

For one, both are under contract through the end of next season so there really is not any motivation to move on from them right now. They have an opportunity to not only turn things around this season but also potentially strengthen the roster around them in the offseason and take another run at it. That does not even get into the possibility of long-term contract extensions for each player.

But perhaps the biggest reason it would not make sense at this point is neither player is having a particularly great season at the plate. Guerrero Jr. is doing a great job getting on base, but his power numbers are the lowest they have ever been in his career with just five home runs and a .406 slugging percentage entering Sunday. 

Bichette, meanwhile, is having the worst overall offensive season of his career. He entered play on Sunday with an OPS+ of just 84 for the season, down from a 123 mark a year ago. A 100 OPS+ is considered league average, while Bichette has never had a full season with a mark lower than 122. Trading him now would be moving him at his lowest possible value, and that is simply not a winning move in the short-term or long-term. 

The Blue Jays have a long road back to the top of the AL East. This is still not the time to make major changes.