Where do the Blue Jays go from here? This is a club that honestly believed it could compete heading into the season, but is on pace to win 73 games.

They are down to their fourth option at third base, due to a series of injuries, and welcomed their 14th different starting pitcher, Sean Reid-Foley, in Kansas City on Monday night. Home attendance is down by more than any other MLB franchise.

Clearly spurred by what has been a head-shaking series of injuries and the frustration of aches and pains to key performers that have been painfully slow to heal, the Jays — under general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro — have finally accepted the fact that the final 49 days of 2018 should become a preview of 2019 and beyond.

The future for the Jays is right now and that will include extended looks at catcher Danny Jansen, starting pitchers Reid-Foley and Ryan Borucki, plus viewing Russ Martin as a well-paid utility infielder and third catcher. There will be even more decisions when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returns to health, with Aledmys Diaz and Devon Travis also in the middle-infield mix.

The biggest impact for the organization emerging from this change of direction, according to a source close to the situation, is that the Jays ideally want nothing to do with third baseman Josh Donaldson by the end of the season — including being forced to make a qualifying offer to the 2015 American League MVP.

If the 32-year-old Donaldson were to finish the year with the Jays, they would need to make an $18-million qualifying offer (all dollars U.S.) in order to receive draft-pick compensation — between the second and third rounds next June. The Jays would rather trade the injured all-star before Aug. 31, even if the return is approximately equivalent to that pick between No. 80 and 100 next summer. They would rather trade him even if they have to pay much of what remains on Donaldson’s $23-million expiring contract.

This trade is not as difficult to accomplish as it might seem. There are contending teams that would simply need to see Donaldson play — either at the minor- or major-league level — to confirm that he is healthy enough to help them down the stretch and into October.

Donaldson is working out at the minor-league complex in Florida and has a couple more tests to pass physically before he is comfortable enough to play in some rehab games, likely in Florida, before returning to the Jays. Those might be the most heavily scouted Class-A or Gulf Coast League games of the year.

At one point, the Jays — and most of MLB — believed the going rate for a healthy Bringer of Rain at the July 31 trade deadline would be a very healthy return. The asking price would have been less than that for 26-year-old Manny Machado, dealt from the Orioles to the Dodgers for five prospects, because of Donaldson’s age.

In hindsight, critics would say the Jays made a huge mistake by not trading Donaldson last winter and getting a package of solid prospects, but the fact that they hung onto him — and even made him a multi-year offer in January — simply confirms that heading into 2018 they believed Donaldson, playing on a one-year deal and angling for a huge free-agent payday, could help them contend.

When Atkins signed fifth starter Jaime Garcia for one year and $10 million, it reinforced that belief in the team they had assembled. On paper, it was a solid rotation. It has not worked out and has led to this: Donaldson is not in the plans.

Here’s how a Donaldson trade could happen by Aug. 31, the last day a player who clears waivers can be added and still qualify for the post-season roster:

Donaldson has not even been placed on waivers yet — that can only happen for active players, or those playing on rehab options — but whenever he plays his first minor-league game, the ball will start rolling quickly.

There can be multiple waiver claims for a player, but the Jays can only negotiate a trade with one team. If that doesn’t work out, they have to pull him back or let him go and get nothing in return, with the claiming team inheriting the full remaining salary. The Jays will not be playing hardball for the return.

The pecking order for waiver claims is in reverse order of the AL standings, followed by the reverse order in the NL. Even though the Cleveland Indians are in first place in the Central Division, their win percentage would give them first shot among AL contenders. They could move the versatile Jose Ramirez to second base to allow J.D. to play third.

If not Cleveland, then the New York Yankees might claim Donaldson in order to block the Red Sox, who have the best record in baseball and would only be in the mix if there were no other AL claims.

The key for the Jays is that Donaldson needs to play some minor-league games in the next two weeks so the process can begin.

STARTING OVER: With the Blue Jays already looking to the future, plus the contract of 34-year-old Marco Estrada set to expire and 31-year-old lefty Garcia already relegated to the ’pen, here is a quick look at the current depth chart for the 2019 rotation, barring the signing of a veteran free agent over the winter.

The top three starters (if healthy) would include a pair of right-handers — Marcus Stroman (27) and Aaron Sanchez (26) — plus emerging lefty Ryan Borucki (24). The final two major-league rotation spots would go to right-handers Sam Gaviglio (28) and Sean Reid-Foley (23), set to make his debut against the Royals in Kansas City on Monday night.

The next four heading to the off-season, in order: righty T.J. Zeuch (23), lefty Tom Pannone (24), righty Nate Pearson (21) and Canadian righty Jordan Romano (25). Beyond that, there is pitching talent in the system but not ready to help in the first half of 2019. Among the MLB.com top 30 in the Jays system, 11 are starting pitchers, including Pearson (4), Reid-Foley (10), Borucki (12), Zeuch (16), Pannone (28) and Romano (29). Pearson has sat out most of the season with a freak right forearm fracture.

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Encouraging for the Jays’ front office and fans is that not one of the nine starters mentioned is older than 28, and the average age is 25.

NEED FOR SPEED: For many major-league teams, the stolen base has become a forgotten skill. The Blue Jays have become one of those, with Kevin Pillar leading the team with 13. Kendrys Morales is just one out of second place, with two. But there is hope for fans who still remember the way baseball used to be played, with speed being one of the cherished skills. Here are the organizational leaders in steals through Sunday (position, name, steals, age and team).

2B Samad Taylor 40 19 Class-A Lansing

OF Chavez Young 31 20 Class-A Lansing

OF Reggie Pruitt 30 21 Class-A Lansing

SS Bo Bichette 29 20 Double-A New Hampshire

SS Kevin Smith 28 21 Class-A Lansing/Dunedin

OF Jonathan Davis 25 26 Double-A New Hampshire/Triple-A Buffalo

OF Tanner Kirwer 25 22 Class-A Vancouver

OF Jhon Solarte 24 17 Rookie/Dominican Summer

OF Roemon Fields 23 27 Triple-A Buffalo

OF Alberto Rodriguez 20 17 Rookie/Dominican Summer

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