{"id":911887,"date":"2026-10-01T05:46:25","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T05:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/911887\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T05:46:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T05:46:25","slug":"blue-jays-offer-concessions-for-lost-season-but-few-firm-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/911887\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Jays offer concessions for lost season but few firm plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

TORONTO \u2014 The public post-mortem for the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> from GM Ross Atkins and president and CEO Mark Shapiro included the appropriate mea culpas, vows to study what went wrong with the offence, but little in terms of actual news.<\/p>\n

For the time being, there are no changes to manager John Schneider\u2019s coaching staff, with Atkins saying \u201cin large part we feel good about the group that is here,\u201d while leaving himself room to manoeuvre by adding that \u201cwe have to make sure that we’re thorough\u201d and \u201cwe’re going to work through that process.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, a hedge there, but intriguingly not when, during a session with writers Wednesday, Atkins responded to a question about whether Ernie Clement will be the team\u2019s starting second baseman next season by saying, \u201che’s got to earn every bit of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s not just write down, ‘OK, we’re covered,’\u201d Atkins continued. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

That could be as simple as more playing time for trade deadline acquisition Josh Smith, or a signal to an open market that will include pending free agents like Brandon Lowe, who offers the power the Blue Jays do desperately need, and Luis Arraez, whom they\u2019ve pursued in the past.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The trade and free-agent markets won\u2019t open until after the World Series ends, so there\u2019s about a month of off-season for the Blue Jays to map out an attack plan with \u201cunderstanding how we improve the pieces that are here, a significant part of our work right now,\u201d said Atkins.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur pro scouting department is constantly scouting and understanding how we value the potential of acquisitions via trade or free agency,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe 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?\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s more about what the Blue Jays had to say about following up their run to the World Series with a 79-83 season and how they intend to move forward:\u00a0<\/p>\n

The most impactful thing the Blue Jays can do this winter is help Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/a> return to MVP-calibre form, and as a starting point, they sent him home with plans setting up \u201cmeeting points and who are in those meetings,\u201d said Atkins.\u00a0\u201cWe need his input,\u201d he added. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

In diagnosing what went wrong, Atkins described the 27-year-old as \u201csuch a dynamic athlete and hitter that it’s a really complex problem\u201d to get him right at the plate. Guerrero uses a toe-tap trigger for his swing, which times up the way he loads on his back leg and gets his hands into a launch position, but when \u201che lost a little bit of that rhythm and timing pretty early in the season, it started to impact his confidence,\u201d said the GM. \u201cAnd once it impacted his confidence, the in-game adjustments and in-season adjustments became very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

How much Guerrero\u2019s various ailments this season contributed to that \u2014 he missed time with back, hamstring, forearm and concussion issues this season \u2014 is something he and the Blue Jays must figure out. Atkins doesn\u2019t think his first baseman needs to simplify all the moving parts, rather, \u201cI think he can get that base back,\u201d while adding that doing so outside the pressure of living up to a $500-million, 14-year deal should help.<\/p>\n

The impact of those expectations was magnified last week when Guerrero made clumsy comments about being paid for what he\u2019s done rather than what he\u2019s going to do, leading to a social media firestorm and an eventual apology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Shapiro said his read of the situation is \u201cmore 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, at which point Major League Baseball will lock out its players, with the owners\u2019 renewed push for a salary cap the key issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The uncertainty around what the next structure may look like could confuse the off-season, and some expect the top tier of free agents to sign before Dec. 1, with the bottom tiers left to scramble once a new agreement is in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shapiro\u2019s approach is to \u201cprepare under the current system, and then you adjust along the way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s what we’re going to do,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blue Jays have $210 million in financial guarantees for 2027, which would make additional spending tricky if a salary cap is implemented. But Shapiro doesn\u2019t \u201cthink any new system adopted would cause for immediate action\u201d from a payroll-cutting standpoint.<\/p>\n

As for where the Blue Jays sit on the cap issue, Shapiro declined to comment, saying only that \u201cthe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blue Jays\u2019 2026 payroll for Competitive Balance Tax purposes is estimated by FanGraphs\u2019 RosterResource at a team-record $314.7 million, which is past the fourth and highest spending threshold and will produce a significant luxury tax bill.<\/p>\n

While the game\u2019s economic framework is uncertain, Shapiro doesn\u2019t \u201canticipate there being any major fundamental change\u201d to the club\u2019s budget for next year. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blue Jays were ninth in the majors with 1,347 hits and had the second-fewest strikeouts at 1,149, yet produced the fewest runs at 648 because they were last in homers (152), second-last in walks (459),\u00a025th\u00a0in on-base percentage at .310 and 26th\u00a0in slugging at .381.<\/p>\n

Simplistically, in 2027 they need to walk more often and hit more homers, but how to do it isn\u2019t straightforward, especially with the Blue Jays believing they have more internal talent than showed up this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Worth keeping in mind is that there are several pathways to more runs. Consider that:<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Milwaukee Brewers hit only two more homers but were second with 832 runs by leading the majors in OBP at .341 while tying for 10th\u00a0in slugging at .403.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2022 The New York Yankees had essentially the same OBP as the Blue Jays at .311, but were second with 223 homers.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2022 The Atlanta Braves had the third-fewest walks at 465, but were seventh in homers at 204 and tied for sixth in slugging at .409.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Atkins said, \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne is ensuring that our players are optimized, that are here, or at least near optimization and then complementing them the right way,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like in 2024, when their offence also cratered, finishing 23rd\u00a0with 671 runs, the Blue Jays still make a lot of contact, but don\u2019t do enough with that contact. Their 87.5 m.p.h. average exit velocity and their hard-hit percentage of 34 were both last in the majors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Atkins. \u201cThat’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\u2019s finding the right balance to ensure we get in, against good pitching, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are Santander and Barger?<\/p>\n

The offence might have looked different with Anthony Santander<\/a>, who underwent shoulder surgery at the beginning of spring training, and Addison Barger<\/a>, who missed time with ankle injuries and underwent reconstructive surgery after blowing out his elbow in his first game back.<\/p>\n

Both should be healthy next spring, but predicting their output is complicated, as Santander will be 32 next year and missed most of last season as well, while Barger, 26, only established himself as a big-league player last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey take a hit objectively and subjectively,\u201d Atkins said of their 2027 projections. \u201cSo, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santander\u2019s attempt at a late-season comeback fell short, but his \u201cbat speed is coming back\u201d as he continues to rehab in Dunedin and \u201che still has all the physical attributes, all of the mental attributes,\u201d added Atkins. \u201cHopefully there’s some benefit to some recovery time for his body, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

The end of George Springer<\/a>\u2019s time with the Blue Jays means the DH spot is vacant and the Blue Jays aren\u2019t looking for a single player to take over those at-bats.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t want to eliminate that possibility,\u201d said Atkins, \u201cbut we would like to prioritize having versatility and being able to DH multiple players, being able to move players around into positions, rest players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sliding Anthony Santander into the DH role isn\u2019t something the club wants to do.<\/p>\n

“We want Tony to be thinking about playing the outfield and being an option for us there and having as much flexibility as possible,\u201d said Atkins.<\/p>\n

Atkins called Dylan Cease, Jose Soriano, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce and Spencer Arrighetti \u201ca good start\u201d in building out a 2027 rotation, \u201cbut we’ll look to add to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

One more starter, at minimum, makes sense as the Blue Jays will also have Bowden Francis, Jose Berrios and Jake Bloss, each working back from reconstructive elbow surgery, become options at some point. Prospects like Nolan Perry and Johnny King could become options as well, and Spencer Miles<\/a>, now free of Rule 5 restrictions after spending a full season on the big-league roster, could also be a rotation candidate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Deciding on a direction for the 26-year-old right-hander, who logged 95.2 innings in a variety of roles after only 23.1 innings the previous three years due to injury, is complicated, but Atkins said the Blue Jays will work off this year in targeting a 2027 workload.<\/p>\n

Still, whether he starts or works out of the bullpen will \u201ccome down to what’s best for him and his career,\u201d said Atkins. \u201cThat’s a difficult decision to make and we’ll work through it with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lefty Ricky Tiedemann, on the other hand, is slated for the bullpen, with the Blue Jays \u201cthinking of him as a reliever,\u201d said Atkins. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"TORONTO \u2014 The public post-mortem for the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays from GM Ross Atkins and president and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":911888,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[64,63,591,85],"class_list":["post-911887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=911887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911887\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/911888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=911887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=911887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=911887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}