I don't believe anyone from the Jays FO said this was supposed to be a playoff year. I always got the impression that this was sort of a "bring everything together" kinda year and next year would be the start of the push...
I mean, nobody realistically saw Vladdy going from slightly-above-average (below expectations) to "BEST f***ING PLAYER IN BASEBALL HOLY s***!", most assumed he'd approach this level, but that it would happen gradually.