Blue Jays need to put money where their mouth is this offseason

It is fine and dandy to preach that you will be active in the free-agent sweepstakes, however, it is another thing to put your money where your mouth is and prove it to the baseball world.

The Toronto Blue Jays brain trust has gone on record this offseason proclaiming they have the financial flexibility to be active in the free-agent market and will essentially leave no stone unturned when it comes to bettering the team for 2020.

The need for starting pitching is their most paramount offseason task for Ross Atkins and company. The Blue Jays acquired Chase Anderson out of the gate and the veteran hurler should definitely add some stability at the bottom of the rotation.

Next, news broke the team was very interested in Twins hurler Jake Odorizzi and had met with his representatives to discuss a potential contract. Odorizzi has a history with manager Charlie Montoyo from their days in Tampa, so there seemed to be a potential match.

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Following their discussions with the Jays, Odorizzi accepted the one-year $17.8 million dollar qualifying offer from Minnesota foregoing his chance at the open market.

Were the Blue Jays that unwilling to pony up the term and cash that Odorizzi felt more comfortable with the guaranteed money on a one-year pact?

Are we once again going to be subjected to a dumpster dive offseason where the front office chases reclamation projects and squanders opportunities at legitimate talent?

We all realize that the Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg pipe dream will never come to fruition but the crop of second-tier free agents seemed to be much more viable and within their reach.

Hopefully, the front office wasn’t just attempting to appease a disgruntled fan base and are sincere about their offseason goals. We will have to wait and see, but one thing is for sure, they need to put their money where their mouth is.