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Blue Jays face uncomfortable Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trade deadline question

Blue Jays face uncomfortable Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trade deadline question originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays are 33-35 on the season, and while it's not ideal for the defending American League champions, which were one game away from a World Series title, the weak AL field this year has them in a postseason spot.

But that doesn't mean this team is stable in this postseason spot, nor are they safe from further regression this season. Taking a step back is very possible for this team, especially if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. keeps playing like he has this season.

ESPN's Bradford Doolittle called out Guerrero Jr's struggles this season as a big problem for the Blue Jays. Not just in that he's hurting their chances to win, but that their trade deadline plans might be severely impacted by the face of the franchise's struggles.

Blue Jays trade deadline plans might be derailed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

"Unless this changes," Doolittle writes on Guerrero's struggles, "it's hard to imagine the Blue Jays' idling season is going to take off in a way to justify an aggressive deadline."

While Guerrero Jr.'s batting average is a solid .282, he has just three homers and a disappointing .737 OPS. He's supposed to be the centerpiece of this offense, and he's only been an average piece at-best this season.

Concern about Guerrero Jr.'s game this season is real, and if he can't turn things around and start hitting for more power, it's fair to wonder if the Blue Jays superstar will be the difference in an aggressive deadline and not.

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If he were slugging as he has before, like his .848 OPS last season with a .467 slugging percentage instead of his paltry .366 slugging percentage this season, then Toronto might be more inclined to be big spenders this summer.

But now, with Guerrero Jr. struggling mightily, the Blue Jays might not be able to confidently add starting pitching help, as they might have to more realistically consider adding power to their offense with Guerrero Jr. failing to provide that for the offense.

This is an uncomfortable problem for the Blue Jays, as the player meant to be the centerpiece of their offense isn't performing well. Guerrero Jr. needs to improve; otherwise, the Blue Jays might not be very aggressive this year at the deadline.