glory

Maybe, but the farm system isn't really in the best position in terms of having top tier trade assets (other than Moreno), so increasing the floor of the roster a tiny bit was probably the only thing they could do realistically. They weren't going to be anywhere near a Soto trade, or even Castillo/Montas. The only realistic trade that I can think of that might have made a significant difference was Raisel Iglesias, but Atkins barely likes giving arbitration money to relievers. He wasn't going to touch that contract.

Agreed. I generally like this FO but having a good plan and executing it well are two different things. I don't think anyone disagrees with "perennial contention", especially coming off 2015-16 which was both super exciting and frustratingly short, but building a roster that can win every year takes some level of risk aversion in free agency combined with being able to create a team friendly financial situation. To this point there have been no team friendly extensions given to core young talent, either out of choice or more likely out of circumstances (Vlad and Bo don't want to sign right now). Then the past two seasons have involved signing players in their 30's to long/big money contracts. The farm system is not in the best shape, and aside from Moreno, lacks upper minors talent both on the position player side and especially on the pitching side. I feel like the next 3 years are probably it as far as this team's window because combining all of those things above together doesn't add up to 5-10 years of a competitive cycle. The Braves signed their stars to team friendly (or borderline exploitative) extensions, so now they have their financial situation locked up and can build around their existing talent. The Jays don't really have that. It's 3 expensive arb years for Vlad/Bo, and then who knows what after that. Obviously, 3+ years is a long time. Maybe by 2025 there will another wave of young talent coming up and the Jays can seamlessly transition into that core without having to do a tear down for a few years. We will have to wait and see. I mean ultimately if the Jays end up making the WC this year (they should), and then have 3 more playoff appearances after that, then you could probably live with a small retool/rebuilding phase after that if there is a reasonable amount of success over that 4 year competitive window (certainly if there is a WS title out of it), but I'm a little skeptical of 2023-25 at this point. Atkins needs to do some things in the winter.

Yeah AA is on a different level now. Probably a bunch of factors playing in. Working under Friedman for a couple of years likely helped. He inherited a great group of young talent. He brought Dana Brown over. He's in a more desirable market so easier to attract FA's (without Beeston putting a cap on the amount of years he can give a player). Plus he's just overall a better GM now. He was always good, but now he's combined the risk taking ability/aim high approach with a much better understanding of roster construction and value. Kinda wish he stayed with Shapiro as the president, but I think he needed those years in LA to turn into what he has become.

Michael Harris, Vaughn Grissom, and Spencer Strider all drafted in 2019 and 2020. I think AA needed those two years with the Dodgers org because he's been great since then (granted with a lot of help from what he inherited but still). He’s set up a nice development system over there from the looks of it.

The Central division is ass, so I can't give the Guardians too much credit, but I like the fact that their team is basically all homegrown talent or talent they acquired in recent trades. In an average division they probably look less impressive, but either way, wouldn't surprise me if they go on another Central division run starting this season.

The Jays will actually have to give up on Pearson being a starter or multi inning bulk guy. Not sure what their reluctance is/was on accepting his injury history and just letting him ramp it up for 1 inning at a time. Hopefully they let him come into spring training next year as strictly a 1 inning reliever. I think if he ever does anything in the bigs, it will be in that role.

I still think the Jays are the best non-Yankees/Astros team in the AL this season, so it would be disappointing if they didn't get the 1st WC, but as long as they get in then they will have a good shot with Manoah/Gausman in the first 2 games. I tend to agree with you on 2023-onwards, though. The farm system doesn't have much in the upper minors outside of Moreno, and the cost of keeping this same group together is going to get much higher as early as next season and definitely 2024 when they have to either replace or re-sign Hernandez, Chapman, and Gurriel. This team was built around the premise of Vlad and Bichette both being superstars. If one or both fall short of that (and in Bo's case this season, way short) then it's going to impact the ceiling of this roster. They could easily perform better in 2023-25, so too early to get too pessimistic about it, but you definitely see some of the cracks in the foundation here. It's going to be interesting to see what they do with Jansen and the outfield situation next season.

Yeah they have felt like an average team most of the season despite being 10 games over .500. The 2021 team seemed like it would be dangerous in the playoffs. This one seems a lot less so even factoring the randomness of the post season some times.

This is the 2nd manager this season who is resting guys and getting Tapia into the lineup as a result. Atkins is crushing on Raimel and there’s no stopping it.

Espinal has fallen off hard the last couple of months and has significant platoon splits this season. Makes sense to go with a platoon at 2B for now.

JBJ has vetrin presents over Zimmer, that's really the only tangible difference now that JBJ appears to be washed. Honestly, for a team as young as the Jays, having a vet in a harmless 5th OF/pinch runner spot probably isn't a bad idea, and with Charlie gone, there is no threat of him starting 3 times a week.

Bo still a few spots higher than he should be but slowly getting there.

Yeah if Vlad and Bo are not superstars then the ceiling of this team drops pretty significantly. Still a good team but not a team you’re going to go broke for. Get to the playoffs, hope for the best, then reload in the winter.

Hopefully with this Marlins trade, Cimber gets moved down the depth chart. He’s a fine middle reliever but shouldn’t be used in high leverage.

I can't give it an A because the team didn't add any real difference making talent, but I think a B is probably fair. While the Jays didn't get any sexy pick ups, I think they are in a position where you can't really pinpoint a significant weakness on the roster. A bench of Merrifield/Tapia/Biggio is solid. The bullpen lacks top end late inning guys, but Pop, Bass, and White replacing Richards, Thornton, etc, is going to limit the amount of suckage in the pen. I guess if you want to be disappointed at something it is rolling with Stripling/Kikuchi as the 4/5 starters, but Strip has been great this season, and Kikuchi is their project for the next couple of years so they were going to run him out there regardless. Just have to hope everyone stays healthy because the depth options after White are terrifying (Hatch better not start another game). I'm not the biggest Max Castillo fan, but yes it would have been nice to hold on to him while adding White just to spread the depth out a little bit.

Great start by Gausman. I'd be tempted to use him for the 9th, but I'm guessing Romano coming in.

Actually, I just looked at Groshans minor league numbers. Wow this dude fell off hard. I knew his power was down but rest of his numbers look pedestrian as well. Jays likely gave up on him and figured his value wasn't going to get any higher. For a team that develops position players pretty well overall, I trust their judgment on him.

Wow, I know Groshans has zero power in the minors so that zaps a lot of his upside (unless he's fixable), but trading him for two relievers is kind of disappointing.

My thought was Happ and a reliever to the Jays is probably a realistic outcome but if the Dodgers are involved (which I suspected they would be if they missed out on Soto), then not sure anymore. The Jays don’t have much in the system outside of Moreno and Tiedmann that I’d miss if they were traded so curious to see if they can get upgrades with other prospects involved.

Soto and Josh Bell? Damn. Most prospects fail, so Padres made out really well here. At least 2.5 years of Soto/Tatis/Machado.

Thor and Robertson sounds pretty realistic too, although the Dodgers haven’t done anything yet, and I could easily see them pivot to some of the Jays targets if they fail on Soto.

I can’t see Atkins trading for Iglesias with the amount of money/years he has left on his deal. We are probably going to end up being surprised at who the Jays acquire because a lot of the talked about targets have been moved. The Dodgers haven’t done anything yet either so I’m sure it’s an issue with Soto more than anything. The moment Soto is traded, if he is at all, then we will probably see some movement.

Rodon is still out there if the Giants are selling (not sure if they are or not). Otherwise SP market looks pretty slim.

Damn, Trivino had "Atkins deadline pick up" written all over it. Yankees beat him to the punch.