Blue Jays are the loveable losers of the offseason thus far

Thus far this offseason the Toronto Blue Jays have been the loveable losers of the teams vying for players on the open market.

The Blue Jays are like a puppy looking for attention on the open market, they are in on everybody but nobody really wants to play for them unless it is an extreme overpay.

The team that agents and players alike use as leverage to push their actual desired location into paying that additional $25 million. Let’s recap the offseason thus far, shall we.

Oh an by the way, yes I am aware, the Blue Jays signed Hyun Jin Ryu and actually ponied up the money for a legitimate free agent. However, let’s not dwell on last offseason.

So back to the recap, the brain trust has attempted to sign Kevin Gausman who opted for the qualifying offer. Ok, no big deal, Jake Odorizzi did the same thing to us last offseason.

Then, Ha-Seong Kim decided to sign with the San Diego Padres after the Blue Jays made him a competitive offer. I get it, there may have been a sticking point on the minor league demotion clause and who are we kidding, San Diego has much better weather than Toronto.

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Tomoyuki Sugano decided to return to Japan after Toronto made him an offer that was not up to par with the Yomiuri Giants four year/ $40 million dollar commitment. I actually don’t blame Ross Atkins and company for not wagering the farm on the unknown from the Pacific Rim. They are undoubtedly still a little gun shy from the Shun Yamaguchi experience of 2020.

Then there is yesterdays kicker, that the Blue Jays actually made a better long term offer to the Indians for Francisco Lindor than the Mets. However, the Cleveland front office opted for the safer trade proposal from New York. The same Indians front office that has deep ties to both Mark Shapiro and Atkins.

Then throw in the fact that the Blue Jays have made offers this offseason to both George Springer and DJ LeMahieu, however, both are using the offers as leverage to sign with their desired team.

They also had a much publicized meeting with Trevor Bauer but who knows where his head is at in terms of offseason plans. Although, it is rumoured that Bauer fancies the west coast and a team with a spring training facility in Arizona, hmmm not the Blue Jays.

I guess, if I am being full, frank and fair, we have inked both Robbie Ray and A.J. Cole back for a reunion tour in 2021. Plan the parade.

Enough is enough, stop sniffing around and take the bull by the horns and land a free agent. If you want LeMahieu or Springer, go get them, if you have to overpay , so be it.

Enough with this one foot in, one foot out masquerade. Get serious, pony up the money and build a winner. At the end of the day, this isn’t the try league, it’s the get it done league. Hat tip to J.D.