If any word is vital for the Toronto Blue Jays right now, it is productivity. Lots of promises and hype were made for the 2023 Blue Jays season, but the hype needed to match the outcome. But despite the disappointing 2023 Blue Jays season, there is a lot to be excited about coming for the 2024 season. The Blue Jays roster in 2024 will look quite different.
Everyone anxiously awaits what will happen with all the Blue Jays free agents. The Blue Jays have no issues with offense. Still, they have lacked consistent productivity and are cashing in with RISP. The Daulton Varsho, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Gabriel Moreno discussion continues as it points to the fact that the Blue Jays lost that trade. What was hyped to be a blockbuster trade now turns questions about Blue Jays management. But can 2024 be a turnaround of this season?
Total hits
Gabriel Moreno & Lourdes Gurriel in NLCS: 15
Entire Blue Jays roster in 2023 Wild Card Series: 15— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 25, 2023
Toronto Blue Jays 2024 Season Early Outlook
Let’s Put the 2023 Season to Rest
Players aged 22 or younger to hit 39+ homers through 130 games:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 💥
Cody Bellinger
Johnny Bench
Eddie Mathews
Joe DiMaggio pic.twitter.com/qY7XjnnK0P— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 1, 2021
During the Blue Jays 2023 season, there was lots of discussion and projection that the Jays would pick up supplemental offense to help give them a push late into the season. As well as hoping to make a deeper push into October baseball. Cody Bellinger was a name that continued to circulate trade rumors as he will be a free agent this winter. Bellinger would have been an excellent pickup for the Blue Jays. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays were unsuccessful in adding any threats to their lineup aside from pitcher Jordan Hicks who was a solid addition. But the Blue Jays issues were never surrounded by their pitching.
If the Blue Jays want to make some noise in 2024, they must shake things up. Time and time again, their strengths lie in their young players. However, the Blue Jays need the big-name players to come to the surface and lead. Adding players that will provide consistency is so significant. The Blue Jays 2023 season showed much promise, but the productivity came in sprinkles and needed to be more linear. When the Blue Jays management had their chance to capitalize on adding more structure to their roster, it was just the same old song and dance. It’s status quo for now, but some changes need to be made in the team’s messaging and communication of its decision-making process. That includes both from the baseball operations department to game staff and from coaches to players.
Is the Impossible Possible?
The Blue Jays can add about $45 million in payroll, and there are several routes that the Blue Jays can turn to. Whether these possible acquisitions are realistic and can be categorized as wishful thinking or unthinkable, they are still on the table. Here are some acquisitions that have turned into a bigger discussion on social media:
- Shohei Ohtani 11-year $489.5 million contract
- Jeimer Candelario two- two-year, $26-million contract
- Harrison Bader one-year, $9 million contract
- Lance Lynn’s one-year, $7.5 million contract
- Amed Rosario, one-year, $7 million contract.
Closing Thoughts
There is one thing to talk about: a big game, and then there is showing productivity. The Jays 2023 season has not been the only year where fans have been left feeling frustrated. There were many games where fans booed the Blue Jays at the Rogers Center this season, and it was not pleasant to watch. If the Blue Jays want to be taken seriously, they must act now. This offseason will be crucial. There’s no question that the Blue Jays have players who worked hard in the 2023 season.
Pitcher Jose Berrios is already working hard and training for the upcoming 2024 season. The Blue Jays also have pitcher Chris Bassitt, who had a fantastic season and can be recognized as a workhorse. There is a lot of young and leadership talent on this team. But can the Blue Jays turn promises into productivity in 2024? There’s no doubt about it, but will they make the right changes? Only time will tell, but a handful of balls can turn into curves in the right direction for the Blue Jays.
Photo Credit: © Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
