Ross Atkins isn’t banking on a miracle from Yusei Kikuchi though he is expecting a significant return to form from Jose Berrios.
But when it comes to off-season upgrade priorities, the Blue Jays general manager is zooming in on the team’s starting rotation.
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Atkins acknowledged as much this week, declaring that adding a rotational arm – and possibly two – is a prime priority this off-season, a period that should get jump-started at next week’s Winter Meetings in San Diego.
“Starting pitcher is the only (area) where I would put a definite on,” Atkins said of his December/January wish list. “We are absolutely in that market. With that, we need to think through what that means through other areas of need and opportunity.
“The way we are thinking is what is the best way to prevent runs. Defence is involved there is well.”
While the GM back-tracked some to leave the door open for multiple scenarios, he also was frank about the clear needs of a starting group that clearly wasn’t good enough in 2022.
Obviously the Jays are in a solid spot at the front end of the rotation with Cy Young Award finalist Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman. But to compete with the best, more is needed.
The team does have Mitch White (acquired last summer from the Dodgers though not expected to be a factor) under contract, but Ross Stripling is a free agent, meaning the Jays could well need two arms to bolster the rotation.
Atkins is bullish on Berrios – and with six seasons remaining on his seven-year, $131-million US extension he has little choice. But that would only represent a third reliable arm from a starting group that needs more.
“There’s a huge part of me that has so much faith in Jose Berrios being a lot closer to the pitcher he was in all of the years prior and I have very little concern about Jose Berrios being integral to our success,” Atkins said.
“But we need to have both. We need to look to add from outside and we need to be better at adding from within as well.”
As for Kikuchi, by the way, Atkins isn’t going to froth over with enthusiasm at the prospect of improvements from the beleaguered left hander.
“It’s altered it from when he was struggling mid season for sure,” Atkins said of how off-season work has changed the Jays’ belief in Kikuchi’s ability to be a factor. “But we will want to learn more and see more before we ink him into a rotation.”
In other words, the Jays will be shopping as though Kikuchi doesn’t exist.
In his time as GM, Atkins has become adept at keeping his cards close to the vest. But the baseball operations department has always been open to creative additions, with versatility and athleticism often the target. Don’t expect that mindset to veer over the coming weeks.
“This is really as honest as I can possibly say it: We’re really just looking for good players,” Atkins said. “It’s not definitely a left-left-handed hitting right fielder to fill the role of Teoscar Hernandez (who was traded to Seattle last month.) Would that work? Sure. Can we consider centre field as well? Sure.
“We have had a lot of dialogue about a lot of different permutations of how we can make our team better. We feel like our starting point is as good as any other teams in baseball.”
Parsing that last Atkins comment is a tacit acknowledgment that there is still work to be done. The Jays team that ingloriously was throttled by the Mariners in the AL wildcard playoff series had flaws and the ascent to be more consistent starts now.
Each of the past three off-seasons have been productive in their own right and Atkins plans more of the same. He said team owner Rogers Communications has signed off on a budget (size undisclosed, of course) and the front office is ready to get down to business.
“We are definitely at the point where we understand where there are levers that can be pulled,” Atkins said. “I also isn’t 100 per cent dependent on us. There are often times when a player or his representation isn’t quite ready for offers to come in. There are often times when teams would like a little more time to understand a different aspect of the market before they fully engage with us.
“But we do have a very clear understanding of where we could take our next strategic step.”
GUERRERO JR. VOTED JAYS POY
There may have been a regression in his offensive performance in 2022, but Vladimir Guerrero did enough to capture the Jays player of the year honours in voting by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Guerrero edged shortstop Bo Bichette, garnering eight first place votes, two more than his fellow infielder.
There was no mystery in the top pitcher category as Alek Manoah was a unanimous winner among the 18 voters with Kevin Gausman a distant second.
Pitcher Ross Stripling, now a free agent, was voted most improved with 10 first-place votes, four more than catcher Alejandro Kirk.
Long-time Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez and first base/outfielders coach Mark Budzinski were named co-recepients of the John Cerutti Award for displaying goodwill, cooperation and character.