Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone. Before I get started, allow me to say that no tequila, worms or Coronas were harmed in the creation of this post. You may think, judging by the title, that several shots were pounded, but I can assure you that my current level of sobriety is strong.

That being said...

Looking ahead and being proactive on the trading front are always key for fantasy owners. The trick is doing the necessary work to find out from where the next potential surge may come. We’ve discussed thing like looking at potential BABIP surgers, but sometimes it’s even easier than that. If you want to see where the next offensive explosion is coming, look no further than the Toronto Blue Jays.

Yes, I know. The Blue Jays have looked awful this season. The departure of Edwin Encarnacion has left a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup and Kendrys Morales has been unable to fill it. But it’s even more than that. The absence of both Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki, coupled with Morales’ struggles has left Jose Bautista as a man alone on an island. The Jays have tried moving him up to the two-hole, but that’s left an even lower-average hitter like Russell Martin as his protection in the lineup. Bautista hasn’t found his groove and the rest of the team has failed as well.

But beginning next week, that all changes as Tulowitzki and Donaldson return Monday for the Jays’ homestand. Yes, the team had them both to open the season, but Tulo started off cold and Donaldson, while he was still batting over .300, was never at full health. The calf injury was a continued source of problems which is why the club opted to throw him on the DL and get him right. Both return now and while it may take them both a game or two to get their feet wet, the landscape of the batting order changes completely and everyone should benefit.

For fantasy purposes, it makes sense to go after any of the team’s big sluggers right now. Owners are massively disappointed and their frustration should not only help keep the price tag down, but should also expedite a deal being made prior to the team’s potential offensive upswing. It’s amazing how this era of needing instant gratification has left normally patient owners ready, willing and able to give up on their players after one cold month. The time to strike is now.

But it’s not just the big three who should garner your attention. While struggles at the plate are obviously contagious, so are power surges. When the meat of the order is replenished, opposing pitchers will naturally look to the bottom of the order as their place to challenge hitters. That means guys like Kevin Pillar, Steven Pearce, Justin Smoak and Devon Travis could start to see a much different pitch selection than they’ve been seeing thus far. Opposing pitchers will try to work their magic and mix things up trying to get the 3-4-5 hitters out while utilizing the bottom of the order as the place to challenge with the fastball. Many of these players are currently sitting on your waiver wire.

Obviously there’s no guarantee and many of you are already so thoroughly disappointed in the current lack of production that you may choose to ignore this, but you have to shed the recency bias and look forward to what is happening. The Jays, at full-strength last year, were one of the most formidable lineups in baseball and those home games at the Rogers Centre were the equivalent of a Coors Field extravaganza. With a fresh start this month, you have to ask yourself – are the Blue Jays this decrepit bunch of offensive failures we watched in April or are they a potential offensive juggernaut just getting themselves back to full strength?

I’ve talked about the need to take some chances in trades at this point of the season and this is the perfect opportunity. If they do surge and you’ve added their bats, you’re well on your way to success. If they don’t, you still have plenty of season left to make something else happen. There’s no need to pay a premium here, so it’s not like you’re taking some massive risk anyway.