How the Toronto Blue Jays can salvage their offseason.
The Toronto Blue Jays have become known more for whiffing than landing its targets, but the winter isn't over yet. The Blue Jays still have time to salvage the 2025 off season.
The Roki Sasaki miss comes with a real cost. The Blue Jays absorbed $11 million owed to Myles Straw to get an additional $2 million in international bonus pool money from from the Cleveland Guardians, which they then offered to Sasaki. He still said no. It was a desperation move -- the Dodgers made their bonus pool trades after Sasaki said yes -- by a desperate team. In the grand scheme of things, spending $11 million over two years on a fifth outfielder won't be prohibitive, but it was a bad misfire by Atkins & Co.
Despite all their "we trieds," the Blue Jays have actually gotten a few players this offseason.
Most notably, they traded for Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez and signed late-inning relievers Yimi Garc�a and Jeff Hoffman to reinforce a bullpen that was among MLB's worst in 2024.
Those are solid enough moves that will make the Blue Jays better.
Better enough to go from 74 wins in 2024 to the postseason in 2025?
I'm skeptical, though it's not impossible in the watered down American League.
The fan base is disappointed at best and enraged at worst. The Blue Jays had a disappointing 2024, they haven't won a postseason game since 2016 despite several recent trips, and their two homegrown stars (Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) are both a year away from free agency.
You needn't try hard to see how the Blue Jays could be forced to enter a rebuild in a few months, perhaps with a new GM. The Blue Jays need a hot stove win. Atkins needs a hot stove win.
It will take more than a few free agent signings and shrewd trades to win back the fan base, but it would be a good start.
Bring in a few new players, win some games early in the season, and the vibes will shift.
Here are four things the Blue Jays can do to salvage their offseason and put themselves in better position to contend for a postseason berth in 2025.
1. Extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr
Vlad Jr. knows the Blue Jays have been unable to land top free agents, and as the homegrown franchise player, he carries extra appeal.
Guerrero is young enough that, even if the Blue Jays have to rebuild after 2025, he'll still be in his prime when they're ready to contend again.
The number, whatever it ends up being ($500 million?), will make the Blue Jays uncomfortable. At this point though, what choice do they have?
2. Sign Pete Alonso or Anthony Santander
You could put Alex Bregman in this group too, though agent Scott Boras recently indicated Bregman is still seeking a long-term contract, according to The Athletic. Pete Alonso and Anthony Santander have both expressed a willingness to take a shorter term deal recently.
If you can keep things short-term for a free agent in his 30s, do that. The Blue Jays have an opening at DH -- Will Wagner's a nice player, but come on -- plus Alonso could share first base time with Vlad Jr., and Santander could always give them innings in the outfield.
Both would upgrade the lineup considerably and give the Blue Jays a much-needed power bat.
Did you know Toronto ranked 26th in homers in 2024? Giménez and a full season of Joey Loperfido isn't going fixing that.
3. Call the Padres about Luis Arraez and Dylan Cease
Like the Blue Jays, the Padres also lost out on Sasaki after being a finalist. Unlike the Blue Jays, the Padres have mostly sat out the offseason.
The only player they've added to the 40-man roster from outside the organization is Rule 5 Draft pick Juan Nu�ez, who has yet to pitch above Single-A.
Cot's Baseball Contracts estimates San Diego's 2025 competitive balance tax (CBT) payroll at $247 million, above the $241 million CBT threshold and well above last year $228 million payroll.
There were rumblings the Padres would have to cut payroll even before the ownership infighting began.
First baseman/DH Luis Arraez and righty Dylan Cease are a year away from free agency and owed $14 million and $13.75 million in 2025, respectively.
How desperate are the Padres to unload that money? Desperate enough to trade one or both players for 75 cents on the dollar? Might as well call and ask.
Arraez isn't a great roster fit, at least not if the Blue Jays sign Alonso or Santander, but there's always a price where it makes sense.
Spring training is a month away and just about every top unsigned free agent is said to be open to a short-term contract except Bregman.
The Blue Jays should be all over the short-term market.
Extending Guerrero is the big one. I get it might make the Blue Jays uneasy -- righty-hitting and righty-throwing first basemen tend to age poorly (hence Alonso's slow market) -- but he is your beloved homegrown star, and he will turn only 26 in March.
Guerrero still has many peak years ahead of him and the talent to be the centerpiece of a World Series contender.
Lock that guy up long-term, then get to work improving the roster around him. They'll probably have to resort to Plan D or E at this point, though there is still time for the Blue Jays to salvage this disappointing offseason.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 19 | 293 ANSWERS How the Toronto Blue Jays can salvage their offseason. What is the Toronto Blue Jays priority going forward? | ||
| Extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr | 189 | 64.5 % |
| Sign Anthony Santander | 14 | 4.8 % |
| Sign Pete Alonso | 9 | 3.1 % |
| Fire Ross Atkins before its too late! | 81 | 27.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
