The Toronto Blue Jays’ shaky start to the 2023 season is catching a lot of eyes for all the wrong reasons. After a busy offseason meant to pump up the lineup, things haven’t panned out as expected. Right now, the team’s stats are hanging out near the bottom in a bunch of key offensive areas.
Baseball expert Ken Rosenthal dropped some thoughts on the Foul Territory podcast that caught my attention. He mentioned that if the Jays don’t start living up to their potential, and they’re just hovering around a .500 win rate or worse by the trade deadline, it might be time to consider a major shake-up. “I don’t care how close they are to a wild card,” he said, hinting at a possible teardown of the team.
With the trade deadline almost 3 months away, and un-signed extensions lingering, the Blue Jays may be surprise sellers this season.@Ken_Rosenthal with more. pic.twitter.com/uvE7HxPjwh
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 7, 2024
The pressure’s even higher considering Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are hitting free agency after 2025. With neither locked down with a long-term deal, it’s crunch time. And with both guys not hitting their usual numbers—Vlad’s at a .229 batting average and Bo’s even lower—things look tricky.
The Jays’ playoff runs in recent years haven’t exactly been inspiring either. Despite making it to the postseason three out of the last four years, they haven’t won a single playoff game. Last year’s sweep by the Minnesota Twins highlights how much the offense is struggling.
Looking ahead, a bunch of key pitchers and players like Jordan Romano, Yimi Garcia, Chad Green, Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi, and catcher Danny Jansen are also nearing free agency. It adds another layer of uncertainty as the trade deadline looms.
Rosenthal compared the Jays’ situation to the New York Mets in 2022. The Mets were struggling and made their first big trade before the deadline while out of the wild card race. We might see something similar with the Jays if they can’t get their act together soon.
With what Rosenthal calls a “limited shelf life,” the pressure’s on. The team has to decide: stick with the current squad and hope for a turnaround, or start fresh and rebuild for the future. The next few months are crucial for the Blue Jays’ direction.
What do you think? Do you agree with the analysis? Drop your thoughts below.