The Blue Jays still don’t look like a finished product, despite Ross Atkins’s recent assurances to the contrary. Spring training is just over a month away.
There’s still a huge gap at designated hitter. It is necessary to have a right-handed platoon option for the outfield. The starting rotation lacks depth noticeably, and it wouldn’t hurt to add a third baseman with hitting prowess.
The front office still has a lot of heavy labour to do before camp opens in mid-February. This means it’s a perfect moment to review the remaining matters pertaining to the Blue Jays in another edition of the mailbag.Just a nice reminder that you may contact me on X @GregorChisholm or send questions to bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com for future mailbag installments. The questions below have been revised for clarity and length:In 2024, which free agent would Gregor, the baseball enthusiast, most like to see wearing a Jays uniform?
— Que, Amos, Karl L.
The Jays, in my opinion, are still a few bats away from fielding a lineup that might be regarded as a serious contender in the American League East. Even if players like Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have successful seasons, this squad won’t change much because there isn’t much offensive upside at other important spots.
That being said, adding two big batters is probably not practical after signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Kevin Kiermaier. The Jays may try to recruit another bat for the bench, but they plan to settle for one huge splash at DH.
Rhys Hoskins is the guy I would pick if I had to pick just one. Due to a knee injury, the 30-year-old missed the entire 2023 season. However, reports indicate that the right-handed hitter has now fully recovered, and unlike Jorge Soler, he will be available on a short-term contract. The Jays need a steady supply of power, so while a lefty hitter like Joc Pederson is appealing, I’m going with the player who has hit at least 27 home runs in each of his last four complete seasons.
Later this week, look for a post that delves deeper into the Jays’ deep hole alternatives and explains why Hoskins is such a compelling upside gamble.
What letter grade would you give the Jays’ 40-man roster after looking at it? What has to be done before spring training begins?
From North Tonawanda, Ed
The off-season receives an F-plus from me. It seems wasteful to use Daulton Varsho in left when he should be starting in centre. Thus, I didn’t think it was a good idea to re-sign Kevin Kiermaier, and Kiner-Falefa seems like a needless player who can’t hit well enough to be a regular at-bat third baseman. Beyond the top five, there is a deficiency in starting depth that has not yet been rectified. The only off-season decision I supported was the return of veteran Chad Green to reinforce the bullpen’s back end.
Remember that this is still a decent baseball team despite the dismal off-season grade. If the rotation maintains its health, it should be a strength even with some regression. Additionally, there is enough talent for a strong starting lineup. I would currently grade the 40-man roster a B-minus since it’s difficult to get rid of the idea that this squad could have been much better than it is. There’s not as much room for error as there once was, but this team should challenge for a postseason position.
Is Atkins just posing or is he actually going to run this roster back as us? Tell me if there are still one or two large bats on the way.
No, I don’t think Atkins is done because the Jays still lack a designated hitter and there are plenty of bat-first players available via free agency. The front office seems to be biding their time in an attempt to get the best bargain and save money. Although Atkins’s recent remarks that he is satisfied with his roster can be seen as posturing, they also suggest that, contrary to what some had first hoped, he will probably just make a few more moves before camp.
What’s the remaining amount of money the Jays can spend?
That’s the million-dollar question, right? The Jays have never been shy about payroll. Only those in the club’s inner circle know the precise amount, but president Mark Shapiro has hinted at what to expect. According to FanGraph’s Roster Resource, payroll was expected to stay “similar level” to 2023 last year. This off-season, Shapiro stated that payroll was expected to stay at a “similar level” to that of 2023. The Jays’ projected payroll for 2024 is currently estimated to be roughly $230 million. Although it’s unlikely that they would surpass the second apron at $257 million, the Jays will certainly become a luxury tax-paying team again.
With mid-season purchases taken into account, the Jays might have as much as $27 million remaining to spend. That puts them in line for at least $15 million.
Should I support a horrible off-season by listing my opener tickets on the secondary market? Who on the 40-man roster has run out of alternatives, is my true query?
— Neil from GuelphThe three players without options are infielder Ernie Clement, right-hander Mitch White, and infielder Otto Lopez. This implies that before they are moved to the minors, waivers must be approved. Remarkably, players who have served for at least five years are also entitled to decline a minor-league assignment.
As a long reliever, White presently has a chance to make the squad, but if the Jays sign another arm to a big-league contract, that might change. Given that Santiago Espinal, Cavan Biggio, and Kiner-Falefa are under contract, Clement and Lopez would need an injury during camp for someone to have a chance.
Regarding those tickets for the opening day, there was a 12-hour window not so long ago where you might have made a good profit. Regretfully, I believe that the widespread panic that accompanied the signing of Kiner-Falefa has since passed.
Do you see the Jays dealing Bo and Vladdy already if they aren’t contenders by the end of July? Gaining control for a year and a half can open up some wonderful opportunities.
Mike, Mexico
The Jays wouldn’t even consider dismantling everything at the trade deadline unless the season fell apart totally. It’s feasible if this team is 10 games out of a postseason spot in July. But the Jays will go for it as long as they’re within striking distance of the game because, if not now, when?
It would be extremely difficult for the Jays to be eliminated by July with the new post-season format. I therefore do not anticipate that as the course this season will go, but if this group falls short once more in 2024, there are no guarantees for the upcoming off-season because the Jays cannot risk losing both Bichette and Guerrero unless they are leaving behind some significant hardware.
Is the Blue Jays’ management unaware of the disillusionment the fan base is experiencing, or are they indifferent to it? Although I understand that the free-agent class is uninspired and that prospective trade partners must be willing to actually trade someone, Ross Atkins, Mark Shapiro, and others ought to be providing us with a little more to cheer about from a public relations standpoint (and from the “we have to sell tickets after spending $300 million on renovating our stadium” point of view).
Storing an entire season on an offensive “blip”? Could it be that the Blue Jays’ unexpectedly good and healthy pitching staff from the previous season was the “blip”? The Blue Jays are going to have a lengthy and frustrating season if the pitching regresses to the mean and the offence remains stagnant.
— Pickering, Andrew
On this one, you’re speaking to the choir. It was risky to enter the Ohtani sweepstakes because it elevated fan expectations to previously unheard-of heights and made it impossible to devise a fallback strategy that would have appeased the masses if the pursuit had failed.
Still, Atkins hasn’t exactly put his head in the sand. He’s aware of the discord among the fan base and he’s definitely aware of the media’s criticism. And he is as aware as anybody that Bichette and Guerrero are getting close to free agency, and the clock is running out.
The Jays either persuaded themselves into making the remarks that last year’s offence was a “blip” or they were simply spinning their wheels after realising how little choices they had. In any case, I’m still not sure how a team signed Kiner-Falefa after pursuing Ohtani.Gregor Chisholm writes baseball columns for the Star and is based in Toronto. You may contact him by email at gchisholm@thestar.ca or by following him on Twitter at @GregorChisholm.
