Blue Jays provide concessions for misplaced season however few agency plans

TORONTO — The public autopsy for the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays from GM Ross Atkins and president and CEO Mark Shapiro included the suitable mea culpas, vows to review what went flawed with the offence, however little by way of precise information.

For the time being, there are not any adjustments to supervisor John Schneider’s teaching employees, with Atkins saying “in large part we feel good about the group that is here,” whereas leaving himself room to manoeuvre by including that “we have to make sure that we’re thorough” and “we’re going to work through that process.”

So, a hedge there, however intriguingly not when, throughout a session with writers Wednesday, Atkins responded to a query about whether or not Ernie Clement would be the group’s beginning second baseman subsequent season by saying, “he’s got to earn every bit of that.”

“It’s not just write down, ‘OK, we’re covered,’” Atkins continued. “But he always has. When he’s been given an opportunity, he’s run with it. We’re always trying to, that was in the plans last year, too, to just try to complement every player the best that we can. Ernie can be an everyday, impactful player. He can also be a player that (takes) 500 (at-bats) and plays at a really high level, and because we’re such a good team, he isn’t the guy that’s being pencilled in every day.”

That might be so simple as extra taking part in time for commerce deadline acquisition Josh Smith, or a sign to an open market that may embrace pending free brokers like Brandon Lowe, who provides the facility the Blue Jays do desperately want, and Luis Arraez, whom they’ve pursued prior to now. 

The commerce and free-agent markets received’t open till after the World Series ends, so there’s a couple of month of low season for the Blue Jays to map out an assault plan with “understanding how we improve the pieces that are here, a significant part of our work right now,” stated Atkins.

“Our pro scouting department is constantly scouting and understanding how we value the potential of acquisitions via trade or free agency,” he continued. “We will have clear priorities. But the dance matters. Understanding if we’re a priority, understanding what the market is going to be and what the expectations are is so important that we’re now preparing. But a lot of our energy is leaning into how do we correct the players that are here and help them develop, help them improve?”

Here’s extra about what the Blue Jays needed to say about following up their run to the World Series with a 79-83 season and the way they intend to maneuver ahead: 

The most impactful factor the Blue Jays can do that winter is assist Vladimir Guerrero Jr. return to MVP-calibre type, and as a place to begin, they despatched him house with plans organising “meeting points and who are in those meetings,” stated Atkins. “We need his input,” he added. “We need to make sure that we’ve considered all stakeholders and as much information as possible. We’ve been doing that over the year, but want to consolidate it again, present our thoughts to him, download his, and then allow him some time to breathe and reconnect on that.”

In diagnosing what went flawed, Atkins described the 27-year-old as “such a dynamic athlete and hitter that it’s a really complex problem” to get him proper on the plate. Guerrero makes use of a toe-tap set off for his swing, which instances up the way in which he hundreds on his again leg and will get his fingers right into a launch place, however when “he lost a little bit of that rhythm and timing pretty early in the season, it started to impact his confidence,” stated the GM. “And once it impacted his confidence, the in-game adjustments and in-season adjustments became very difficult.”

How a lot Guerrero’s numerous illnesses this season contributed to that — he missed time with again, hamstring, forearm and concussion points this season — is one thing he and the Blue Jays should work out. Atkins doesn’t assume his first baseman must simplify all of the shifting components, fairly, “I think he can get that base back,” whereas including that doing so exterior the stress of dwelling as much as a $500-million, 14-year deal ought to assist.

The influence of these expectations was magnified final week when Guerrero made clumsy feedback about being paid for what he’s accomplished fairly than what he’s going to do, resulting in a social media firestorm and an eventual apology.

Shapiro stated his learn of the scenario is “more just what he was with us and how he responded to us and that his feelings were authentic and genuine. There have been players that have reacted and said similar things in the past when they’ve struggled and faced frustration. It’s a tough stage for a 26-, 27-year-old to be on and deal with that level of pressure and anxiety. But I double down on the fact that I believe in Vlad as a player and a person, and I know how much he cares, and that’s how I interpret those comments: that they weren’t a reflection of how much he cares.”

The collective bargaining settlement expires Dec. 1, at which level Major League Baseball will lock out its gamers, with the homeowners’ renewed push for a wage cap the important thing subject. 

The uncertainty round what the subsequent construction might appear like may confuse the low season, and a few count on the highest tier of free brokers to signal earlier than Dec. 1, with the underside tiers left to scramble as soon as a brand new settlement is in place. 

Shapiro’s method is to “prepare under the current system, and then you adjust along the way.” 

“That’s what we’re going to do,” he continued. “We always prepare for multiple scenarios. So we will be prepared to adjust and adapt. Any new system adopted, there will be a timeframe for adjustment into that system. That’s understood. But we’ll follow the lead of the commissioner’s office on the details of that.”

The Blue Jays have $210 million in monetary ensures for 2027, which might make extra spending difficult if a wage cap is carried out. But Shapiro doesn’t “think any new system adopted would cause for immediate action” from a payroll-cutting standpoint.

As for the place the Blue Jays sit on the cap subject, Shapiro declined to remark, saying solely that “the process is being led by the commissioner’s office, we certainly engage in that at the right times, but as a front office, we’ll work to adapt to any system in place and be the best we can within that.”

The Blue Jays’ 2026 payroll for Competitive Balance Tax functions is estimated by FanGraphs’ RosterResource at a team-record $314.7 million, which is previous the fourth and highest spending threshold and can produce a big luxurious tax invoice.

While the sport’s financial framework is unsure, Shapiro doesn’t “anticipate there being any major fundamental change” to the membership’s finances for subsequent 12 months. “We have not finalized that; we’re still working through that. But my expectation is we’ll be in a similar area of support and resources.”

The Blue Jays had been ninth within the majors with 1,347 hits and had the second-fewest strikeouts at 1,149, but produced the fewest runs at 648 as a result of they had been final in homers (152), second-last in walks (459), 25^th in on-base proportion at .310 and 26^th in slugging at .381.

Simplistically, in 2027 they should stroll extra usually and hit extra homers, however how one can do it isn’t easy, particularly with the Blue Jays believing they’ve extra inner expertise than confirmed up this 12 months. 

Worth maintaining in thoughts is that there are a number of pathways to extra runs. Consider that:

• The Milwaukee Brewers hit solely two extra homers however had been second with 832 runs by main the majors in OBP at .341 whereas tying for 10^th in slugging at .403.

 • The New York Yankees had primarily the identical OBP because the Blue Jays at .311, however had been second with 223 homers.

 • The Atlanta Braves had the third-fewest walks at 465, however had been seventh in homers at 204 and tied for sixth in slugging at .409.

That’s why Atkins stated, “I don’t think we have to be elite in those categories to score a lot of runs, as we saw last year, but we’ve got to lean into several areas.”

“One is ensuring that our players are optimized, that are here, or at least near optimization and then complementing them the right way,” he added. “And then the last thing is how are we adjusting to the league. That’s certainly part of optimization, but I think the adjustments also pertain to acquisition and deployment and overall construction.”

Like in 2024, when their offence additionally cratered, ending 23^rd with 671 runs, the Blue Jays nonetheless make numerous contact, however don’t do sufficient with that contact. Their 87.5 m.p.h. common exit velocity and their hard-hit proportion of 34 had been each final within the majors. 

“The best offensive teams in baseball do it all, and then the best offensive teams in the playoffs certainly do it all and contact is a priority,” stated Atkins. “That’s something that we’ve leaned into, and we recognize that we’ve taken some risk there, that contact plays in the playoffs and not quite as well over the course of 162. So it’s finding the right balance to ensure we get in, against good pitching, too.”

What are Santander and Barger?

The offence might need regarded totally different with Anthony Santander, who underwent shoulder surgical procedure originally of spring coaching, and Addison Barger, who missed time with ankle accidents and underwent reconstructive surgical procedure after blowing out his elbow in his first sport again.

Both ought to be wholesome subsequent spring, however predicting their output is sophisticated, as Santander can be 32 subsequent 12 months and missed most of final season as effectively, whereas Barger, 26, solely established himself as a big-league participant final 12 months.

“They take a hit objectively and subjectively,” Atkins stated of their 2027 projections. “So, relatively speaking, how you protect yourself for that or how you consider alternatives, you have to factor in that it’s not quite as stable as it was a year or two years ago.”

Santander’s try at a late-season comeback fell quick, however his “bat speed is coming back” as he continues to rehab in Dunedin and “he still has all the physical attributes, all of the mental attributes,” added Atkins. “Hopefully there’s some benefit to some recovery time for his body, as well.”

The finish of George Springer’s time with the Blue Jays means the DH spot is vacant and the Blue Jays aren’t searching for a single participant to take over these at-bats.

“I don’t want to eliminate that possibility,” stated Atkins, “but we would like to prioritize having versatility and being able to DH multiple players, being able to move players around into positions, rest players.”

Sliding Anthony Santander into the DH position isn’t one thing the membership desires to do.

“We need Tony to be serious about taking part in the outfield and being an choice for us there and having as a lot flexibility as doable,” stated Atkins.

Atkins referred to as Dylan Cease, Jose Soriano, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce and Spencer Arrighetti “a good start” in constructing out a 2027 rotation, “but we’ll look to add to it.”

One extra starter, at minimal, is sensible because the Blue Jays may also have Bowden Francis, Jose Berrios and Jake Bloss, every working again from reconstructive elbow surgical procedure, change into choices in some unspecified time in the future. Prospects like Nolan Perry and Johnny King may change into choices as effectively, and Spencer Miles, now freed from Rule 5 restrictions after spending a full season on the big-league roster, is also a rotation candidate. 

Deciding on a route for the 26-year-old right-hander, who logged 95.2 innings in quite a lot of roles after solely 23.1 innings the earlier three years as a consequence of harm, is sophisticated, however Atkins stated the Blue Jays will work off this 12 months in focusing on a 2027 workload.

Still, whether or not he begins or works out of the bullpen will “come down to what’s best for him and his career,” stated Atkins. “That’s a difficult decision to make and we’ll work through it with him.”

Lefty Ricky Tiedemann, then again, is slated for the bullpen, with the Blue Jays “thinking of him as a reliever,” stated Atkins. “I would love for him to somehow do something to change that. But most likely thinking about him as a reliever, could grow into some bulkier outings.”