The Blue Jays Made A Big Mistake

Despite having a line-up featuring stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, and others; the Toronto Blue Jays offense was mediocre in 2023. Toronto scored one total run in their postseason elimination by the Minnesota Twins. Despite only averaging 4.55 runs per game, general manager Ross Atkins made minimal additions to the line-up. So far this season, Toronto is currently in fourth place in the AL East and their offense has gotten worse. I believe the Blue Jays made a mistake by not making larger additions to their line-up.

Help Was Needed On Offense

Last season, the Blue Jays averaged 4.55 runs per game. This put the Blue Jays in the middle of the pack offensively. This was due in part to lots of regression by many key players including Vlad Jr. However, despite the mediocre offense, Toronto was able to grab the final wild-card spot. A big reason for reaching the postseason in 2023 was their pitching staff. However, The Blue Jays would be knocked out of the postseason early for the second year in a row by the Twins. John Schneider’s foolish removal of Jose Berrios overshadowed how poor Toronto’s offense was against Minnesota. The Blue Jays offense only mustered one run in the entire Wild Card series.

No Major Moves Were Made After Failed Bids On Ohtani And Soto

After failing to acquire Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto, the Jays opted to make only small improvements to their offense. They signed veteran free agents Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner to one-year deals. The Blue Jays even brought back defensive-minded outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Toronto also added veterans Joey Votto, Daniel Vogelbach, and Eduardo Escobar on minor-league contracts. Despite a productive season, the Blue Jays decided to not bring back Brandon Belt. General Manager Ross Atkins would later justify non-major moves by reiterating his confidence in the current line-up. However, Atkins probably regrets not adding another big bat.

The Blue Jays Offense Has Only Gotten Worse

The Blue Jays offense so far in 2024 has been one of the poorest in baseball. They are currently averaging only 3.55 runs per game. The only teams averaging fewer runs are the Athletics, Marlins, and White Sox. Line-up mainstays Vlad Jr., Bo Bichette, Alejandro Kirk, and George Springer have played very poorly. Guerrero Jr. looks like he’s on his way to another statistical regression for the third season in a row. Kirk hasn’t been able to recapture what made him a dangerous hitter back in 2022. Springer will be turning 35 this season and looks to be heading toward the wrong side of it. Bo Bichette is surprisingly off to a bad start as well.

There Were Still Difference Makers Available

Judging by how this season is going so far, the Blue Jays made a big mistake by not making a major addition to their offense. While they failed to win both the Ohtani and Soto sweepstakes, there were still plenty of other consolation prizes. Free agents like Cody Bellinger, Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, Jurickson Profar, and others might have been difference-makers in Toronto’s line-up. These productive players wouldn’t have cost nearly as it would to sign Ohtani or to trade for Juan Soto.

Missed Opportunities End Championship Aspirations

If Toronto fails to make the postseason, they’ll have nobody but themselves to blame. Toronto’s offense should be much better with stars like George Springer, Bo Bichette, and Vlad Jr. Ross Atkins shouldn’t have put all the Blue Jays hopes into acquiring Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto. There were plenty of less expensive free agents that may have been difference-makers. It’s missed opportunities like this that ultimately close championship windows.

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