The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a tough 2024 season. They completed 14 video games beneath .500 and final within the AL East. Whereas they’d a lineup that includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer, their offense was among the many worst within the American League. Worst of all, their pitching workers regressed from one of the best to one of many worst. Regardless of the shortage of postseason success, a low-ranked farm system, and lots of key gamers changing into free brokers after the 2025 season; Toronto determined in opposition to rebuilding and can attempt to compete subsequent season. Recently, they appear to assume that they’re official contenders within the Juan Soto sweepstakes. This offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays are within the silly mindset of considering they’re higher than they are surely.
A Nightmare 2024 Season
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Regardless of having the seventh-highest payroll in baseball, the 2024 season was an entire nightmare for the Toronto Blue Jays. The group missed the postseason and completed 14 video games beneath .500 and in final place within the American League East. Whereas Toronto’s lineup featured stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer; their offense solely averaged 4.14 runs per sport. The one groups who averaged fewer runs than the Blue Jays have been the Athletics, Angels, Rays, and White Sox. It didn’t assist that each Springer and Bichette had career-worst seasons. Whereas the Blue Jays offense has continued to wrestle, Common Supervisor Ross Atkins retains foolishly saying it’ll bounce again.
A Pitching Workers That Regressed Badly
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In 2023, the Blue Jays pitching workers was one of the best in baseball. Nevertheless, in 2024, it’d’ve had the worst regression the league has seen shortly. As a workers, it compiled an ERA of 4.29 placing them close to the underside of the American League. The one groups that had increased earned run averages than Toronto have been the Rangers, Athletics, Angels, and White Sox. Pitchers like Alek Manoah, Jordan Romano, Chris Bassitt, Yariel Rodriguez, Zach Pop, and Erik Swanson have been both harm or ineffective. It wasn’t too farfetched to assume that perhaps Toronto’s pitching overachieved the season earlier than.
Pushing Off A Rebuild
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On the commerce deadline, Toronto dealt away Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Danny Jansen, Yimi Garcia, Trevor Richards, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Nate Pearson. After the season concluded, many individuals thought Toronto would enter a rebuild. The group had a poor 2024 season and has the Twenty fourth-ranked farm system with no prospects within the prime 100, and key gamers like Vlad Jr., and Bo Bichette will probably be free brokers after subsequent season. The group hasn’t made any actual progress in extending both of these two gamers. Nevertheless, regardless of the state of their group, Toronto has indicated that they’ll contend in 2025. This determination will come again to harm the Blue Jays very quickly as they’ll have a fair longer rebuild forward. Maybe it’ll be sufficient to wake Chairman Ed Rogers from his nap and have a tendency to his uncared for group.
The Blue Jays Are Delusional To Suppose They Can Signal Juan Soto
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Juan Soto is essentially the most prized free agent on the open market. Postseason contending groups just like the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies will probably be within the combine to attempt to signal him. The Blue Jays are presently beneath the delusion that they’re a critical vacation spot for Soto. In spite of everything, marijuana is authorized in Canada, and the Blue Jays are gravely unsuitable about their possibilities of getting Juan Soto. This group has an upcoming future that might be stuffed with lacking the postseason, extra losses, and last-place finishes. Scott Boras is simply benefiting from Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro’s gullibility and utilizing them to drive up Soto’s worth.
The Staff Is Changing into Extra Irrelevant Every Season
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Regardless of the shortage of success, the Toronto Blue Jays proceed to assume they’re a championship-caliber group. Nevertheless, final season confirmed that this group is nearer to rebuilding than profitable the World Sequence. The truth that they assume that they’re a critical vacation spot for Juan Soto makes them look much more delusional. I don’t assume they understand that Scott Boras is simply utilizing them as leverage. Toronto’s cockiness goes to explode of their face and their impending rebuild gained’t have an finish in sight.
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