The Toronto Blue Jays have some serious issues heading into to Spring Training
PUBLICATION
Ryan Hall
February 11, 2025 (9:30)
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Blue Jays offseason is nearly coming to an end it has been 1 of disappointment and some hope but there are a few items remaining that the Blue Jays need to attend to before the beginning of Spring Training.
"He believed in me when I was in Cleveland." Anthony Santander chats about his prior relationship with Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro.
General manager Ross Atkins still has time to look around a league to see if there are any remaining free agents that could help the team in various roles. Third base free agent Alex Bregman is still in contention for the Blue Jays as he has not signed with any team yet.
Blue Jays need to continue to look for help in free agency
Atkins also explained to the media recently that any help that would come to the Blue Jays would likely be more from trade rather than free agency. But it's safe to say that the Blue Jays organization will still look for help.
There can never have enough pitching an more bullpen help would help the Blue Jays going forward along with another bat.
Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Andrés Giménez is #1 amongst all MLB 2nd baseman fielding wise
Another issue the Blue Jays are attending to is the surplus of players that are crowding the Blue Jays infield. The team currently has 8 infielders that will likely needs to be trimmed or potentially used as trade bait.
There can also be options where they could use some of these players to help shore up other areas of the team especially these players leave like Bo Bichette who will be of eligible for a new contract next season.
Vladimir Guerrero JR needs to be signed long term
The consensus throughout the Blue Jays fan base and writing staff is that the Blue Jays need to find a way to extend Vladimir Guerrero junior to a long-term deal as he is their best player and the face of the organization.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned in a dominant second half of the season en route to a .323 AVG and .940 OPS in 2024. The Blue Jays slugger lands at #4 on The Shredder's #Top10RightNow list at first base.
The situation has become much more complex now since the Dominican excelled in 2024 with a slash line of .323/.396/.544. Guerrero Jr. now has much more leverage after posting stellar numbers in the back half of the 2024 season, which means that it won't be easy for Toronto to get a deal that they necessarily want in this extension talk. Veronica Chung Bluejaysnation
At 25 years old and still plenty of upside in his game, it's safe to say that it's paramount that Blue Jays make this deal happen as they have been so unlucky over the past several months with other free agents that have not chosen to come to Toronto.
The team would have a cornerstone to build around and could help attract other free agents in coming years especially if the team begins to win more games and become more of a playoff contender.
Rogers Communications has made it clear that they are willing to spend the money so now it's a matter of Atkins and Shapiro to bring this deal home.
Previously on Blue Jays Insider
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13 HOURS AGO | 1141 ANSWERS The Toronto Blue Jays have some serious issues heading into to Spring Training What do you think is priority for the Blue Jays to resolve before the start of Spring Training? |
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