Are the Blue Jays Well Prepared for a Possible Rebuild?

Realist – Anything Can Happen, Be Ready

The path that the Blue Jays organization takes will all be decided based on the team’s overall record come July and the MLB trade deadline. If the Jays are sparked by Sanchez, Happ, and Donaldson’s return and surge to a playoff spot, expect the front office to add to the roster in hopes of securing another deep playoff run. However, if the season truly appears to be over, then a rebuild or at least a retool of the roster seems inevitable.

Whichever the case, Blue Jays fans should not worry the slightest bit. The front office is led by Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, who were at the helm during the Cleveland Indians rebuild. Add in the brains of Ben Cherington, the mastermind of the Boston Red Sox retool, and you have some of the game’s most premier executives that can change an old team into a young juggernaut.

If management feels like the current core will not suffice in bringing a championship to Toronto, they have the skills and assets to overhaul the roster and build the Blue Jays into a perennial World Series contender. On the other hand, if the new regime thinks that such a drastic change to the organization is not necessary, they can also pursue the option of slowly giving the reigns to the younger core while still contending for the playoffs each year.

From a realistic perspective, a whole lot has to go right for the Blue Jays to become the next Cubs or Red Sox. Trades have to be executed to perfection, drafts have to be prosperous in acquiring young talent, and the need of the present must be balanced with the needs of the future. Frankly, the margin for error is slim and it could a long period of time before the Blue Jays become relevant once again.

That being said, Blue Jays fans should not fear change, but rather embrace it if the time comes. With so many talented young players, both at the MLB and MiLB level, to go along with a capable front office, this team could become younger, more balanced, and primed for years of success with a short rebuilding phase.

The past two years have been a great ride and many fans (and those bandwagons) appear to fear the time when there is no longer a Jose Bautista or a Josh Donaldson on the team. However, if, just if the time comes when the front office signals the start of a rebuild, be prepared to embrace it with open arms as it will do more good to the Jays organization, than harm.

Next: Blue Jays: What’s wrong with Jose?