Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins gave an Oscar-worthy performance yesterday when he spoke on Sirius XM Radio in regards to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Unfortunately for Atkins, everyone including himself realizes he regurgitated some scripted red carpet malarkey about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. not being major league ready. The entire interview was all hocus pocus, smoke, and mirrors but Atkins’ hands were tied.
The GM can’t publicly boast about Vladdy being ready to step in and be the superstar we all project him to be and then demote him. The MLBPA would file a grievance faster than it takes one of his batting practice rockets to leave the yard.
The team also cannot publicly state a player is being demoted due to service time constraints or once again a grievance will be coming in short order. So what could Atkins really do?
https://twitter.com/MLBNetworkRadio/status/1100515856726003713
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Atkins gave his best Academy Award-winning performance hopeful that major league officials will buy it. What can Vladdy really work on in three weeks in the minors anyways? This is a business and the brain trust is well within their right to do this if they say all the right things.
Yesterday was Atkins attempting to say all the right things.
This move makes sense from a business standpoint to ensure another season of Vladdy in exchange for three weeks in the minors for a team that in all likelihood won’t contend in 2019.
Vladdy has been taking it all in stride while saying all the right things when asked, however, hopefully, the Jays don’t kick the hornet’s nest too often and do permanent damage to their relationship with the teenager.
I know we all love to get on Atkins from time to time but the Blue Jays are pot committed on demoting Vladdy Jr. to start the season, this was just Atkins vocally putting the wheels in motion and going through all the necessary steps to get away with it.