Will the Sasaki debacle finally cost Ross Atkins his job?
Blue Jays fans have been calling for the head of General Manager Ross Atkins for quite some time; yesterday's screw ups seemed to pushed everybody over the edge.
So why is this latest non-signing the thing that could finally cause Ross Atkins his job? Two words: Myles Straw
In an egregious show of bravado that became one of the most spectacular misfires in baseball history, Atkins limply reached out to his old team in desperation, hoping they might help him out of a Japanese pickle. Instead, Cleveland threw wasabi in his eyes, saddling the Blue Jays with a ludicrous contract for an outfielder who played a total of four big league games last year, all so Ross could get his extra bonus pool money for a player that most people thought was never going to come to Canada.
It was a epic failure of stupid proportions. There was no reason to make that trade. Straw has already been assigned to Double-A and isn't even on the 40 man roster. And the Blue Jays owe him upwards of $10MM over the next two seasons.
In an offseason of so many near-misses, this feels like the biggest blunder of all. This can't keep happening.
And while, statistically, Atkins has done an admirable job as GM, mistakes and non-moves are always amplified more than the successes.
Atkins has a year left on his contract, and had already been announced as returning for 2025. But that was before any of this. Before Sasaki, before Corbin Burnes, before Juan Soto. Before Jays fans started threatening to burn the place down. The same thing happened with former manager Charlie Montoyo. His contract was renewed for two years prior to 2022. Halfway through the year he was let go, being told of the decision upon returning from the funeral for the daughter of first base coach Mark Budzinski.
Atkins may not been gone yet, but with the Sasaki debacle and with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. still not signed to an extension, the noose around his neck is tightening.
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