Insider Ken Rosenthal: “A Reckoning Is At Hand” For Failing Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to fumble and stumble their way through another thoroughly disappointing season, and the noose continues to tighten on manager John Schneider, GM Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro. Toronto is last place in the AL East at 16-19 heading into the week, and baseball insider Ken Rosenthal says "a reckoning is nearly at hand" for this poorly-constructed, poorly run and poorly-performing team:

The Jays continue to underperform. Their payroll is a franchise-record $225 million. Their farm system is meh. And with many of their big names approaching free agency, the team is at a crossroads.

Rosenthal in particular points to the difficult decision that this team will face as to whether or not to become sellers as we approach the trade deadline if they continue to come up flat this season.

Atkins did nothing this past winter to upgrade the team's notably feeble offence, and in fact has watched year after year as viable contributors have walked out (or were sent out) the door, from Marcus Semien to Teoscar Hernandez to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to Matt Chapman.

The front office has continued to mismanage the woeful Alek Manoah saga, and Atkins pulled off the worst trade perhaps in the history of the Blue Jays, by sending top prospect Gabriel Moreno and Gurriel for Daulton Varsho.

Rosenthal notes that there are a number of impending free agents after this season like Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Kevin Kiermaier and Danny Jansen. If selling becomes an option, perhaps we could see some of these names being dangled.

And after the 2025 season? Free agents include Bo Bichette, Vlad Guerrero, Jordan Romano and Chris Bassitt.

As the veteran insider notes, "A reckoning is nearly at hand".