Blue Jays look to add quality
The Toronto Blue Jays weren’t even allowed to play in Toronto in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and it remains to be seen whether the Canadian government will ease restrictions to allow them to play at home in 2021. If not, the Blue Jays will likely spend the 2021 season playing their home games in Buffalo just like they did during the 2020 campaign.
However, that hasn’t stopped the team from reaching their goals or setting ambitions plans. The 2020 season saw Toronto reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, despite the fact they were swept in the opening round by the Tampa Bay Rays. For a young and rather inexperienced squad, the chase of a playoff spot and gaining postseason experience was crucial for the development of the team. Now that the team has hit the playoff milestone, they are looking for even more in 2021.
The team has a skilled young core but could use depth in their pitching rotation as they struggled in this area last season. However, they have not limiting themselves to looking for just pitchers in the free agent market as general manager Ross Atkins has made clear, but it is an area they are targeting.
“At this point, it’s about quality,” Atkins said, via TSN. “We feel good about the quantity and need to be focused on the quality of how we’re getting outs at this point. Pitching is an area that — I hate to sound cliché — you can never have enough of it. We feel very good about the work that’s happened over the last several years to build up that depth.
“We’re talking to just about every available free agent in the pitching category, as well as talking to teams on that front, so we’ll continue to stay in that market.”
Toronto is likely to be a big spender in this year’s free agent market considering they have not seen the huge revenue losses that other clubs have. While fans were not allowed in any ballparks during the regular season, the Blue Jays are owned by a telecommunications company whose resources have largely been unaffected by the pandemic.
The team had been cautious about spending prior to the 2020 campaign as they knew they would not be competitive on the field, but now that they have a real chance at success the club is looking to sign top free agents. The Blue Jays have been named as a possible destination for a handful of elite players, including 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer.
“It seems clear that they’re excited about the Toronto Blue Jays as they’re talking about us as a landing spot for their clients,” Atkins said, via TSN. “From teams, it seems clear that they, in many cases, are feeling that we’re going to be in a good position to take another step. What matters is where we are, and perception is one thing and then what ends up happening is another.”
It remains to be seen whether Toronto will land any players they have been linked with, but fans certainly have a reason to be excited for what’s to come.
