Blue Jays on front lines of this winter's MLB hot-stove lethargy
History shows Blue Jays slow winter still has opportunity for movement
Frustration, thy name is Ross Atkins!
There can be no argument that the Blue Jays have established a negative off-season relationship with their fans in this winter of their discontent. Given the first-round, wild-card knockout in Minneapolis, then the failed bid for Shohei Ohtani that showed Toronto as true players on the big-money stage, plus the expensive improvements being made to the lower bowl of the Rogers Centre, that will, in some part, be passed on to season-ticket holders, it sort of feels like a friend inviting you to dinner for a business proposal, accidentally flashing his wallet jammed with $100’s, then asking you to pick up the tab for the meal. Eye-rolling moment, indeed.
So, let’s take stock and review where the Blue Jays stand on this Hall-of-Fame Day. The Jays, in 2023, won 89 games and squeezed onto the October dance floor, lost four key position players, former team ace, Hyun Jin Ryu, plus one of the hardest throwing relievers in baseball, Jordan Hicks, all to free-agency. They then re-added their own centre fielder, Kevin Kiermaier, plus, yet another utility player, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and a swing-man for the pitching staff, international veteran righthander, 27-year-old Yadier Rodriguez. This is not yet an 89-win team in ’24.
Yes, spring training is just over three weeks away and the Jays still have major question marks at second-base, third and DH. The pitching staff is solid and deep, but can it carry the Jays, despite an offence that was not good enough in 2023 and has not become better? It may seem like it’s too late, but let’s examine that premise.
Over time, history proves that free-agent players, their representatives, club general managers and player families much prefer to sign a new contract before the new year. It gives the players certainty and their families a chance to find a place to live in their new city and often think about their new spring training state. It allows for fans to get fired up and purchase tickets. It allows for the industry to stay relevant over the long winter months. Early signings often open the floodgates to other signings.
That being said, we looked up the recent list of January/February major-league transactions that have been executed in this front-office regime by Ross Atkins entering his ninth season as Blue Jays general manager. It was surprising to see how much has been done during this seemingly desperate timetable in which one would think you were dealing with unwanted leftovers as spring training unfolded.
The Top 10 list of Atkins late-winter, Jan./Feb. roster moves includes: free agents, OF George Springer (6 years, Jan. 19, 2021); 2B Marcus Semien (1-year, Jan. 26, 2021); DH Brandon Belt (1-year, Jan. 9, 2023); RH Chad Green (2-years, Jan. 31, 2023); SS Freddy Galvis (1-year, Jan. 29, 2019); OF Curtis Granderson (1-year, Jan. 23, 2018); OF Jose Bautista (1-year, Jan. 18, 2017) and RH David Phelps (1-year, Jan. 12, 2019).
The two trades on that Atkins Top 10 list, completed in the first two months of the calendar, since the year 2016, includes: OF Randal Grichuk from the Cardinals for RH Conner Greene and RH Dominic Leone and LH Steven Matz from the Mets for RH Sean Reid-Foley, RH Yennsy Diaz and RH Josh Winckowski. NOTE: This does not include later deals in March, for example, 2022, bringing in 3B Matt Chapman, from the A’s, because by mid-March there are more needs, factors and realities in play.
That’s a total of 34 major-league roster moves by this management group in January and February, since ‘16, meaning there is still hope for much-needed improvement.
Some of the names to look for over the next 37 days, through February, in whom the Jays may have interest, include free-agent DH Jorge Soler, 3B Matt Chapman, DH J.D. Martinez, 3B Gio Urshela, RH Brandon Woodruff. In terms of a trade, the Twins promised in November to reduce payroll, given the collapse of their regional TV deal, but have yet to make a move, likely for 2B Jorge Polanco or OF Max Kepler.
Of course, there have also been some dud free-agent moves among the Atkins 34. Take, for example, RH Gavin Floyd, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, LH J.P. Howell, RH Mat Latos, 3B Yangervis Solarte, LH Jaime Garcia, RH Kirby Yates and RH Tyler Chatwood.
But, optimistically learning from history, it seems there may still be hope for Blue Jays movement and improvement in time for 2024. Following is the list of 34 Atkins transactions since 2016.
2016 (4)
Jan.8 RH Drew Storen in trade Nats for OF Ben Revere and PTBNL
Feb.2 OF Darrell Ceciliani in trade Mets for PTBNL
Feb.6 RH Gavin Floyd 1 yr. FA
Feb.17 RH Dustin Antolin 1 yr. FA
2017 (5)
Jan.18 OF Jose Bautista 1 yr. FA
Feb.6 C Jarrod Saltalamacchia 1 yr. FA
Feb.9 LH J.P. Howell 1 yr. FA
RH Joe Smith 1 yr. FA
Feb.16 RH Mat Latos 1 yr. FA
2018 (8)
Jan.6 3B Yangervis Solarte in trade from Padres for OF Edward Olivares & RH Jared Carkuff.
Jan.19 OF Randal Grichuk in trade Cards for RH Conner Greene & RH Dominic Leone.
Jan.23 OF Curtis Granderson 1 yr. FA
Jan.25 RH Rhiner Cruz 1 yr. FA
Feb.8 RH Jake Petricka 1 yr. FA
Feb.9 RH John Axford 1 yr. FA
Feb.15 LH Jaime Garcia 1 yr. FA
Feb.26 RH Seunghwan Oh 1 yr. FA
2019 (4)
Jan.12 RH David Phelps 1 yr. FA
Jan.14 RH Javy Guerra 1 yr. FA
Jan.29 SS Freddy Galvis 1 yr. FA
Feb.27 RH Ryan Feierabend 1 yr. FA
2020 (1)
Jan.24 RH Rafael Dolis 1 yr. FA
2021 (8)
Jan.18 RH Tyler Chatwood 1 yr. FA
Jan.19 OF George Springer 6 yrs. FA
RH Kirby Yates 1 yr. FA
Jan.26 2B Marcus Semien 1 yr. FA
Jan.27 LH Steven Matz in trade Mets for RH Sean Reid-Foley, RH Yennsy Diaz & RH Josh Winckowski.
Feb.11 RH David Phelps 1 yr. FA
Feb.12 INF Joe Panik 1 yr. FA
Feb.28 LH Travis Bergen contract purchased from D’backs.
2022 (0)
No transactions Jan. 1 to March 1
2023 (3)
Jan.9 DH Brandon Belt 1 yr. FA
Jan.11 RH Jay Jackson 1 yr. FA (MiL contract)
Jan.31 RH Chad Green 2 yrs. FA
2024 (1)
Jan.17 RH Yariel Rodriguez 2 yrs. FA
Im of the belief that unless the club makes it deep into the ALCS, then you trade Vlad, Bo, Biggio, and anyelse with there finaly year of control thqt wont or we cant resign. After the 25 season SS,1b, 2SP, the whole bullpen and starting C are gone. So if they dont kick a$s in 24, then the 24/25 offseason should be trading every thats not nailed down to kick start a rebuild in a major way. Ask for close to league ready prospect as in AA an above or young players that dont fit with there current team. With that the team would be able to start competing in 2-3 years. The other option is left them walk and get 2-3 comp picks in and around the 3rd round.l amd if your luck compete im 6 years So to you I ask, do u agree or not? If this happens it has to be Click running the show. Teams like the dodgers would pay big for 1yr of BO other teams could use a closer like romano, aswell as a few other bullpen pieces. Cincy has a over flow of IF guys target teams with top 3rd farms that are finlly going for ot or the big teams that always go amd u could get some good assets quickly
The jays traded for grichuk after the deal for yellich fell thru. At the time is was said the jays wanted to dump kendres Morales so they offered BO, morales and whatever else. Miami said we would if we get vlad and not bo. Either way im a world were the jays did land yellich amd not land/resign Grichuk what does the team look like now?