Blue Jays pursuing trade for two-time All-Star infielder?

The Toronto Blue Jays may be trying to enter The Crone Zone.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported this week that the Jays have had discussions with the San Diego Padres about a potential trade for infielder Jake Cronenworth. The 29-year-old Cronenworth is a buy-low candidate after hitting .229 with a .689 OPS last season.

The Padres have already traded away Juan Soto and Trent Grisham and allowed players like Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo to walk in free agency. While they did just sign Japanese reliever Yuki Matsui to a five-year, $28 million deal, the club would still like to shed payroll. Trading away Cronenworth, who is about to begin a new seven-year, $80 million contract, would be another major way to accomplish that.

Rosenthal does note that San Diego might be reluctant to deal another left-handed hitter after already trading both Soto and Grisham to the New York Yankees. But Toronto needs another such bat (they are already known to be after another lefty slugger) and could make a very competitive offer for two-time All-Star Cronenworth.