The Blue Jays are vying for Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani, Why is winning so important?
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The Jays are pursuing the biggest names this offseason in a notable shift from previous years: two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in free agency and outfielder Juan Soto in trade. Furthermore, Toronto appears to be in win-now mode due to a number of circumstances, which is reflected in the urgency with which the team is moving.
• The Jays’ disappointing and contentious postseason exit, which occurred when manager John Schneider relieved Jose Berríos of a shutout in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Minnesota Twins in the fourth inning. After the Blue Jays’ defeat and subsequent elimination, Atkins gave Schneider all of the blame before eventually accepting more responsibility. The Jays haven’t won a postseason game since 2016, and they are 0-6 in their last four postseasons.
The fan base’s dissatisfaction with the team’s performance during Rogers Center’s $300 million renovation, which has caused ticket prices to rise. Other teams facing fan unrest include the Yankees, Cardinals, Giants, and Red Sox; however, the Jays’ problems may be particularly severe because they are attempting to recoup their renovation costs by offering new, premium seats.
• The fact that first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette are both two years away from free agency, endangering the team’s ability to compete in the future. The inability of the Jays to sign either player to an extension raises concerns about how committed they are to staying. Guerrero has declined offensively since his incredible 2021 season, so he might not be as appealing as he once was as an extension candidate.
• The prospect that Shapiro and/or Atkins might lose their positions. Atkins and Shapiro have contracts through 2025 and 2026, respectively, but pressure seems to be building. In addition to the $300 million in ballpark renovations, the Jays’ owner, Rogers Communications, approved the construction of a new $100 million player development complex in Dunedin, Florida. Rogers, a publicly listed business, undoubtedly wants to see a return on its financial commitments.
The Jays are no longer a young, emerging team. On the other hand, they failed to meet expectations last season even though they were above the luxury tax threshold. Now that third baseman Matt Chapman, outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, and other players could leave in free agency, the team needs to add talent to stay competitive and draw crowds to their recently remodeled park.
It’s unlikely that the Jays will acquire Ohtani, as he’s also being pursued by the Dodgers, Cubs, and possibly other teams. Ohtani is anticipated to demand a minimum $500 million contract. Even though the Jays represent the entire nation and play in the biggest city in Canada, they rarely, if ever, engage in or win bidding wars with teams in the largest U.S. markets.
Soto might be a long shot as well. The Padres are reportedly seeking a steep package for an outfielder with a career OPS of.946 (Guerrero is at.844, Bichette is.826). The Yankees are one of the other teams interested in the outfielder. The issue with Soto is that he is essentially a $30 million or more per year rental. He will almost definitely hit the open market at the end of the season, represented by Scott Boras.
When everything is considered, the Jays are in a risky situation. Despite having the second-best ERA in the American League due to their excellent pitching, their offense was merely mediocre, finishing tied for 14th in runs scored in the previous season. As he moves into the fourth year of a six-year contract, Springer is declining. Furthermore, there isn’t exactly a wealth of talent in the Toronto farm system. According to Baseball America’s midseason organizational rankings, it is the sixth-worst team in the league.
Thus, there must be a big splash. Without one, the Jays might be in trouble, especially if Guerrero and Bichette both leave after 2025. The idea is unsettling. The Jays don’t have the money to rebuild. If they go into a losing streak while raising ticket prices, their fans will become even more irate.
After spending six consecutive losing seasons with the Angels, Ohtani has stated he wants to play for a winning team. However, he may feel there are too many unanswered questions about the Jays. Or, if the Jays offer him the highest salary, he might be drawn to the prospect of playing in one of the cleanest and most diverse cities in North America.
Soto would be more of a short-term move, but he might be worth the money and player trade if he helped the Jays advance farther in the postseason. By then, maybe the Jays could sign him to a deal similar to what they seem willing to offer Ohtani.
Ohtani and Soto, the Jays require anything at all. Their predicament is urgent. A significant push is necessary. They are compelled to swing widely almost exclusively. additionally to link.