TORONTO – Narratives, fair or unfair, have power, so when Riki Sasaki chose the Los Angeles Dodgers in line with industry expectations, it certainly strengthened the narrative that the Toronto Blue Jays are the perennial runner-up.
When you think about the pursuits they put themselves into this offseason and last season – Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Corbin Burns and now Sasaki – together they read like the same story. sad and brutal chapters, even though each case is independent and unique.
There’s a subtle distinction here, though it doesn’t matter if fans’ hopes are constantly raised or dashed. For them, fatalism is understandably a simple and logical response, but for any front office, what option is there but to keep trying, as they did Friday with free agent outfielder Anthony Like Santander?
Shouldn’t they do whatever it takes to pursue what’s possible, even if it’s impossible?
After all, the Blue Jays have spent years building infrastructure to support the pursuit and signing of top players, renovating the Rogers Center in Toronto and the Spring Complex in Dunedin, Florida, while creating more space with new premium space. Competitive source of income.
Now that the machines are in place, they’re taking the types of swings they’re supposed to take, which is a challenge for a class of players that’s just out of reach. They signed the likes of George Springer, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassett while their competitive window is on the rise, perhaps indicative of the potential baseball teams have in the right situation.
However, if this is not the case, the challenges intensify.
How perfect would it take for Ohtani to stay away from the Dodgers, a team where his baseball and business interests align perfectly? Or let Soto leave the Mets and insist on acquiring him in a four-team bidding war? Or was Burns purchased for the ideal family situation in Arizona? Or lure Sasaki north when money is not the deciding factor?
When you’re not a destination market, the end of the 1974-88 season comes at a cost after a string of painful wild-card eliminations, a talented but questionable roster, and cornerstone Vladimir Gray Jr. Rowe and Beau Bichette await free agency.
Plus president and CEO Mark Shapiro and head coach John Schneider’s contracts are set to expire after this year, while general manager Ross Atkins Atkins will take over after 2026, which creates a lot of instability for a free agent with an option.
Everything the series does, then, is seen through a narrative prism, which makes dissecting a disappointing Friday all the more interesting.
In the morning, it looked like the Blue Jays’ attempt to build a Pacific Rim pipeline, a project they’ve been working on since 2018 when Hideaki Sato was hired as the pipeline’s coordinator, was about to succeed. They received $2 million in additional international bonus pool space from the Cleveland Cavaliers to take on Myles Straw and $11.8 million of the $15.55 million guaranteed over the next two years, which some contenders Rival executives interpreted the move as a possible move by Sasaki. Heading north.
Otherwise, why spend so much money on a stellar defensive outfielder with such a low batting average that Cleveland is keeping him in the minors through 2024 when the top talent in the signing period that begins Wednesday is already signed. ?
After all, the deal may depend on Sasaki’s approval. That appears to be what the Dodgers did, with bonus pool space deals being made with Philadelphia and Cincinnati soon after Sasaki announced his decision on Instagram.
An industry source emphasized the point, saying the Padres, another struggling Sasaki finalist, are also believed to have contingency protocols in place for the pool room if needed.
Regardless, the Blue Jays’ added space won’t be wasted.
They would soon lock in prospects who had reached handshake deals but were put on hold while Sasaki made his decision, with a pair of Dominican shortstops Christopher Polanco (expected to sign for $2 million) and Juan Sanchez ( Juan Sanchez). Approximately $1 million will be ordered. The current signing period expires on December 15th, so before then they have to look for the likes of Kendry Rojas, Sem Roberse and Yoswell Zuluai Yosver Zulueta and other players who have signed in the past have the same advantages.
Of course, that doesn’t help the 2025 team, and Straw doesn’t provide the one thing the Blue Jays roster needs most – production.
Santander, on the other hand, does provide the real pop that Guerrero needs behind him to punish pitchers who decide to pitch around the four-time All-Star. He will join the Blue Jays’ other winter additions — three-time Gold Glove second baseman Andres Jimenez, All-Star closer Jeff Hoffman and relievers Yimi Garcia and Nick · Sandlin – Combined to help the Blue Jays become a better team than before. a year ago.
Whether or not this was the offseason they wanted, this is what they got.
In this way, narrative drives reality during this fateful offseason, just as reality drives the Blue Jays’ narrative, helping determine not only the club’s fate in 2025, but its broader direction in 2026 and beyond.
