What's next for the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans?

Ross Atkins took on some unfavorable funds from the Cleveland Guardians in the hopes that it would lead them to one of baseball's emerging stars.

Six and a half hours later, they still had the unfavorable money and the Myles Straw contract, but without Roki Sasaki.

In an all-too-familiar outcome, Roki Sasaki chose the Los Angeles Dodgers while the Blue Jays are left where they started.

Actually, worse off than where they started because their pursuit of international bonus space led them to depth outfielder Myles Straw and $11.8 million in future salary commitments.

Cleveland Guardians executives come out of this smelling like a dozen roses while Ross Akins and Mark Shapiro well you know.

It was another gutting day for the Blue Jays and their fans, and while there are rational takes to be had about what it means and where it all might lead, let's start with the emotion.

For Blue Jays fans, this is simply cruel. On the field, this team is eight and a half years removed from their last playoff win.

Their last three trips to the post-season have ended in sweeps, and in 2024, the team finished last in the AL East.

This lineup still needs a bat or two, the rotation needs some depth and the bullpen needs another arm, even after the addition of Jeff Hoffman.

There are still plenty of options on the free-agent market, including Anthony Santander and Pete Alonso, and that market is expected to pick up again very soon.

After losing out on another high profile free agent, the Blue Jays need to get out front of this situation quickly by signing a player of significance.

The Roki Sasaki pursuit shined a light on this organization's strengths and weaknesses. One thing Toronto does well is acquire established pitching, develop them further and keep them healthy.

Look at Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi and others.

The development of pitching prospects, though, has room for improvement, and the farm system has not done enough to replace some of the talent that the Blue Jays have lost or are about to lose in the coming years.

A player like Roki Sasaki is looking not just at 2025 but well beyond.

What players see is a 74-88 team with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and CREATE
Bo Bichette
potentially 162 games away from free agency. It's not pretty at a glance.

The Blue Jays will now watch from a distance again as the one who got away heads to the Los Angeles Dodgers. again. They had a shot.

They've hit those shots before with stars Kevin Gausman and George Springer, but as these near misses continue to pile up, those days feel far...far... away.

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