Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
A late-season Blue Jays news release in 2023 trumpeted the team’s push into the postseason and released playoff ticket information before the final homestand.
The main hook of this year’s offer instead was to promote its nature. He focused on the possibility of fans breaking a stadium record for most one-dollar hot dogs eaten in a season.
What a difference a year makes.
The Blue Jays, who made the playoffs in three of the last four years, have been under the .500 mark since April 30 and are a good bet to finish last in the American League East.
As the club closes the season with a week-long homestand, here’s a look at five talking points.
FACE (S) OF FRANCE
The long-term plan for infielders Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette has been a hot topic since the homegrown talents emerged as star players in the major leagues.
That won’t change into a challenging off-season for general manager Ross Atkins.
Guerrero and Bichette are set to become unrestricted free agents after the 2025 campaign. The franchise’s future plans will become much clearer if they put pen to paper on contract extensions.
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Guerrero has rediscovered the form that saw him finish second in American League MVP voting in 2021. Bichette, who led the AL in hits in ’21 and ’22, struggled through a year bent by injuries.
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RELIEF NEEDED
A bullpen that had a variety of weapons last year was gutted this season due to trades, injuries and underperformance.
This is arguably the area of ​​greatest need as the Blue Jays look to return to contention next season.
Closer Jordan Romano is coming off elbow surgery, Yimi Garcia was traded, Erik Swanson had a stint in the minors and Tim Mayza’s long streak in Toronto ended when he was designated for assignment.
Chad Green and Genesis Cabrera became the main high-leverage options in the second half with intermediate results.
START ROTATION
There is a solid core in place in the team’s starting rotation but more depth – particularly a quality left-hander – would be welcome.
Veterans Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt provide a reliable 1-2-3 punch up top.
Yariel Rodriguez is the likely man at No.4 and Bowden Francis, after a remarkable second half, has made a strong case to round out the five-man line-up.
Alek Manoah, who missed most of the season after undergoing hybrid Tommy John surgery, will likely be out until June at the earliest.
TAKE A LOOK
One of the few positives of last place in the standings is that it provides an opportunity to look at rookies, new players and recent trade acquisitions.
Players like Spencer Horwitz, Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger and Ernie Clement all had opportunities this season and could be factors in 2025.
BOSS ROSS
The front office will be under a lot of pressure this offseason before the competitive window with the current core begins to close.
Atkins has been in the job as GM for almost nine years. The Blue Jays’ only playoff wins in that time came in 2016 when they reached the ALCS with a squad largely assembled by predecessor Alex Anthopoulos.
The Blue Jays missed out on two-way star Shohei Ohtani last year. A top free agent — think Juan Soto or Alex Bregman — will probably need another big swing this fall.
An offense that was a dish all season desperately needs big bats. It would also prove to the fans and the baseball world that the Blue Jays are ready to make a big effort to be contenders again.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 22, 2024.
Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://globalnews.ca/news/10768666/interesting-off-season-awaits-for-blue-jays/
