“Barging In”: Why Addison Barger is the Blue Jays’ smartest trade asset this Winter
If you want to understand why Addison Barger is more valuable to the Blue Jays right now as trade bait, and why that makes sense even if you like him personally, you must start with the numbers, then layer on context.
Many teams will like the control and the pop
In 2025, Barger hit .243 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs over 460 at-bats.
His 2025 slash line (.243/.301/.454, .756 OPS) and 21 HR power mark him as a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat with upside.
He’s just 26 which is still young and likely controllable for awhile.
For a team potentially looking to re-invest in pitching arms or bullpen help, that kind of young power bat, without a huge financial burden, is a valuable trade asset.
In short, Barger is a sell-high upside bat and those are rare in offseason trade markets.
His defense is tough to put in the lineup on a championship team that already has offense
Barger’s value is real. But his defensive performance, especially in the outfield, is questionable. It could lead to it being hard to get him into the lineup, especially when you have a DH-preferred guy like Springer already. For a team like the Blue Jays, with championship ambitions and a crowded roster, that’s a mounting risk due to the fact that:
He splits time between third base and right field.
According to defensive metrics, his outfield defense has been below average as he’s struggled in Outs Above Average (OAA) metrics in the outfield in 2025.
At third base his arm strength and raw power are assets but defensive spectrum didn’t treat him as a plus defender: his readiness and range project as average to below average.
In a roster built to contend now, liabilities on defense matter more than ever before.
In other words, Barger has upside at the plate but he’s a defensive wildcard.
Here’s why trading Barger now makes sense and why it’s a gamble to wait
Trading Barger doesn’t signal panic, but rather smarts and a willingness to convert surplus value into needed pieces.
Here’s why it works:
High trade value right now: A young, controllable bat with pop will always draw interest, especially from clubs lacking left-handed thump or affordable power.
Roster flexibility for Toronto: By trading Barger, the Jays free up a corner spot to deploy players with stronger defense (or more versatile defenders). At the very least it opens up at bats for a roster that has the ability to hit.
Use value to shore up other needs: Jays could try to acquire bullpen arms, or a defensive-minded corner option for less cost and less risk than overpaying for a middling defensive bat. If they sign Kyle Tucker, this becomes almost a requirement.
Manage long-term payroll and depth risk Barger’s 2026 contract is pre-arbitration so trading him now gives better windows to reset or redirect resources before arbitration escalates the costs.
He can help open somebody else’s competitive indo while helping to expand Toronto’s
A purchasing team chasing playoff contention or run-production upside might view Barger as:
A left-handed middle-of-the-order bat with youth and upside
A cost-controlled power/thump bat for 3–4 seasons with upside
A tradable asset to balance offense without committing long-term dollars
What the Jays should demand in return:
Upper-tier pitching prospect (starter or bullpen), or
Defensive-first corner infielder or outfielder with controllable years, and/or
Prospects to diversify depth (middle-infielders, bullpen arms, multi-position defenders)
Convert Barger’s power into pitching depth or defensive flexibility because those are the assets a contender needs more AND can allow you to bolster the prospect pool to stretch the competitive window.
Don’t forget, the odds that he doesn’t fit in a post-lockout salary capped roster are pretty good anyway.
Barger Is a Trade Asset and Not a Long-Term Cornerstone
I like Barger A LOT and I root for him but I can see the bigger picture and it’s not likely to have everyone we love as fans in it past 2026. Not taking action on him now could mean him walking as a free agent, needing to trade him at lower value due to lack of control or higher cost, or even decline in performance.
In a window where the Blue Jays are trying to build a sustained contender that’s playoff-ready and deep for multiple years, Addison Barger is more valuable to the organization as a trade chip than as a long-term regular.
Let the bat walk out the door if it unlocks a bullpen arm, financial flexibility, serious prospects that expand the window, or the ability to get more at bats for stars.
Because in October, games aren’t won by “power potential”, they’re won by pitching, defense, depth, and balance.
It’s a bit hard to swallow, I’ll admit, but trading Barger is the mature adult decision.
