Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s request for patience amid struggles isn't feasible

Toronto entered Saturday in last place in the AL East, 13.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Blue Jays were also 6.5 games out of the AL wild-card chase, with five other teams standing between them and the final wild-card spot.

However, Guerrero isn't ready to give up yet, telling Matheson, "There’s 58 games left and you know how baseball is. Anything can happen. Myself and the rest of the guys, we’ve just got to continue to play hard."

While "playing hard" may pay dividends, it's a reality that the Blue Jays may look much different after the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. 

Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman and outfielder/designated hitter George Springer have been mentioned as potential trade candidates, as have outfielder Daulton Varsho and starting pitcher Shane Bieber.

A combination of any or all of those names would change the look of a franchise that entered 2026 with such high hopes for what was to come.

Could Blue Jays get on a run before MLB trade deadline?

After finishing up the series in Boston on Sunday, Toronto stays on the road to face the Washington Nationals for three games. After an off day on Thursday, Toronto welcomes the St. Louis Cardinals for three games before heading out on a three-city, seven-game road trip to Houston, Chicago (to face the Cubs in a makeup game, rescheduled from June 21) and Philadelphia. 

On the surface, that's not a recipe for the Blue Jays to get right. Toronto will be in Houston to face the Astros on Aug. 3, so the big decision day will fall after one last series in front of the home fans to show the season can be salvaged.

That series against the Cardinals could also be a goodbye for some Blue Jays if Toronto's front office decides to pull off some trades.

Guerrero may be asking for patience, but the simple truth is that the timing of the schedule doesn't allow that to happen for a Blue Jays team that could be bracing for plenty of changes.