When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was signed and Bo Bichette was drafted, 2024 looked like the year everything would come together for the Toronto Blue Jays. These two promising players were expected to reach their peak, with the team building a solid roster around them. This was supposed to be the Blue Jays’ best chance within their competitive window—a season where they would vie for the AL East title, supported by key veteran additions and high-end prospects. This was the dream.
However, the reality has been starkly different. This season has been marked by underperformance and injuries, leading to even the most optimistic fans losing hope. The season started poorly for nearly everyone on the roster, and by June 16, the Jays were just a game under .500, seemingly only a modest winning streak away from being back in contention.
Instead of a winning streak, the Blue Jays lost seven games in a row, dashing their high hopes within a week. Since then, they’ve gone 9-16, falling further in the standings and losing most of their high-leverage relief corps. Now, as the season reaches its end, fans have given up.
The resignation among fans is so deep that the discussion has shifted from whether the Blue Jays should be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline to how extensive the sell-off should be. If a sell-off is generally accepted, the more pertinent question is whether those overseeing the team’s direction should continue making foundational decisions for the next competitive window.
It’s not surprising that fans in a disappointing year want to see changes. Even former GM Alex Anthopoulos and former manager John Gibbons, who are now revered, faced criticism during their tenures. The difference between these gentlemen and the current decision-makers lies in expectations and outcomes. Anthopoulos and Gibbons managed a team with modest expectations, while the current front office has brought the team close to success, only to fall short, appearing either comically or tragically.
Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto was criticized last off-season for saying that a franchise’s goal should be to win 54 percent of its games over a decade. Although Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins haven’t publicly stated this, their cautious, risk-averse, process-driven approach reflects this notion.
However, fans want more than just sustainable long-term competence. They crave peak moments that will keep them engaged during lean times. Flags fly forever, and in a cynical age, selling hope isn’t as effective as it used to be. The team needs to adjust its risk measures and processes to account for this reality.
So, what’s next for the Blue Jays? Their impending free agents will likely be traded, assuming they recover from injuries in time. What the team does with homegrown starting catcher and impending free agent Danny Jansen will be a key indicator of their future direction. If Jansen is traded, it would suggest the Jays are leaning more towards rebuilding than retooling.
This brings us back to the initial aspirations fans had for a team led by Vlad and Bo. These players are integral to the team and its fanbase. The off-field leadership appears inclined to keep them through this season, despite market interest. The ultimate fate of these two players will be crucial in defining the legacy of this closing competitive window and shaping the future outlook. These decisions will deeply impact the hearts and minds of fans and will define this front office.
However, how likely is it that these crucial questions will be answered by the trade deadline? And who will be responsible for these answers?
As fans grapple with these uncertainties, the future of the Blue Jays hangs in the balance. The decisions made in the coming months will set the course for the team’s direction and will either reignite hope or deepen the disappointment that has marked this season.