Blue Jays: An interpretation of Mark Shaprio’s recent comments

Blue Jays’ President Mark Shapiro made some interesting comments yesterday at the Rogers Centre, which may have told us a lot about what’s to come this winter and in 2019.

While things have been pretty slow when it comes to the Blue Jays roster build, there have been plenty of interesting comments to chew on for those that are paying attention.

Captured in an article from Sportnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith are several interesting comments from Mark Shapiro, the President and CEO of the Blue Jays. Shapiro has been asked a lot about the front office’s plans for the future, and while they haven’t added a lot this offseason there have been some significant roster changes, such as the release of Troy Tulowitzki.

When he was pressed about any interest in the free agent market, he eventually admitted that the Blue Jays wouldn’t be “pacing the market”, which makes sense in a rebuilding year for the club. More likely they’ll be waiting to see if some bargains emerge in the new year, and more likely closer to the beginning of spring training. As Nicholson-Smith also pointed out, it worked out pretty well with a trio of bargains in Seunghwan Oh, Tyler Clippard, and John Axford in 2018, and I imagine that Atkins will keep his eyes open for similar opportunities.

The comment he made that really struck me was in regards to pacing the market and how that relates to their view of the free agent market.

"“That’s just not where we are because there’s not that sense of urgency at one position that we feel like is so important for us to improve for next season’s ballclub.”"

I completely understand the lack of urgency at this point, especially for a team that is just beginning a rebuild and will be fielding several rookies next season. However, the part that I find interesting is his reference to “one position”, especially when it comes to how incomplete the 40 man roster looks to me at the moment.

Right now there’s a pretty clear need in the rotation and in the bullpen. The starters will include some combination of Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Ryan Borucki, and then likely a battle between some of Sean Reid-Foley, Thomas Pannone, and Sam Gaviglio. Like many writers and fans, I’ve always assumed that the Blue Jays would reinforce their rotation, especially in light of Sanchez’s recent injury troubles, and even Stroman’s inconsistent 2018 campaign.

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If Shapiro, Ross Atkins, and the Blue Jays really aren’t worried about the 2019 season, then it’s possible that they could go with a group like that and look to internal reinforcements if and when the need arises. It’s rare that a team needs less than 10 starters in a season, so after the above mentioned group comes a different tier of pitchers we could see in Toronto next year. It could be trade acquisitions like Trent Thornton, or Julian Merryyweather, David Paulino, or maybe even Jacob Waguespack. Some of those same names might be needed to fill out the bullpen, depending on how the Blue Jays approach the rest of this winter.

He did also say that moves were still coming and that the club would spend money, but it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow a bit at the above comment, as well as when he said:

"‘if we value our players more than other teams value our players as teammates, as competitors, as athletes and as a talent,’ then we don’t need to make any more trades.”"

That could be in specific reference to players like Justin Smoak, Kevin Pillar, or maybe even Russell Martin, veterans who are holdovers on the rebuilding club. Each have been attached to some rumours so far these winter, but there hasn’t been any significant movement that we know of. It could mean that all or some of them will be back in Toronto next season, at least for the beginning of the year anyway.

It could also mean that if the Blue Jays are going to make any additions at all, it will be in the form of late-offseason bargains. If they materialize, great, but if not then I have a funny feeling that the front office is willing to see what some of their organizational depth is made of. Whatever happens, it doesn’t sound like the front office is too worried about the immediate future anyway.