Even before the four-game sweep over the Yankees that vaulted the Blue Jays into first place in the AL East, GM Ross Atkins said the Blue Jays planned to be buyers ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

The Toronto Blue Jays are red-hot, having won four games in a row and seven of their last 10. At 48-38, they have climbed into a first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the American League East.

As the trade deadline approaches, there's a clear trend when it comes to evaluating some of the team's most sensible targets.