Blue Jays Ex-Files: How deadline departures are faring in stretch run

When the Toronto Blue Jays took a hybrid approach at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, their post-season odds were slim. The Blue Jays traded significant players with expiring contracts and a top prospect for controllable pieces that could contribute both now and in the future. In the short term, it’s worked, as Brett Bateman, Josh Smith, José Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti have combined for more fWAR (1.9) than Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho, Jeff Hoffman and Adam Macko (1.2), and the Blue Jays’ FanGraphs playoff odds have jumped from 5.8 per cent to 32 per cent, thanks to a 20-14 run.…