FanSided

3 worrisome truths about the 2024 Blue Jays that should have fans fuming

By Zane Cherniak |
Philadelphia Phillies v Toronto Blue Jays
Philadelphia Phillies v Toronto Blue Jays / Cole Burston/GettyImages
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The 2024 season was far from the kind of year the Toronto Blue Jays were hoping to experience. From Game 1 all the way to Game 162, this team became exposed for the holes they had. It had become abundantly clear that they were still far away from competing for a World Series title.

The Blue Jays entered the 2024 season with high hopes, building on years of investing into their current core and pushing for a return to the postseason. However, as the season progressed, some uncomfortable truths of the team have come to light--- realities that fans may not want to face but cannot ignore.

While the Toronto Blue Jays are undeniably talented and well-equipped to compete, a few key issues threaten to hold them back. From underwhelming performances to unprecedented scenarios, these hard truths paint a stark picture of the unacknowledged challenges that the Blue Jays are dealing with.

The struggles of the bullpen were not a fault of the FO

It's no secret that the Blue Jays' bullpen was an incredibly weak spot during the season. They ranked dead last in fWAR at -2.5 while also giving up the most home runs at 92 (10 more than 2nd place).
This was one year removed of one of the most effective Blue Jays bullpens assembled in the past decade. In 2023, the Blue Jays had a stable of effective arms to turn to.

Pitcher

2023

2024

Jordan Romano

2.90 ERA, 59.0 IP, 36 SV

6.59 ERA, 13.2 IP, 6.17 FIP

Erik Swanson

2.97 ERA, 66.2 IP, 1.09 WHIP

5.03 ERA, 39.1 IP, 2.5 HR/9

Tim Mayza

1.52 ERA, 69 G, 2.60 FIP

8.03 ERA, 36 G, 1.94 WHIP

What was considered the Blue Jays lethal top 3 bullpen arms in 2023 had completely cratered in the following season. The bullpen had essentially been dismantled, without a single replacement. Relievers are the most inconsistent part of baseball swaying from year to year, but the dropoff in quality was beyond any reasonable expectation. With the Blue Jays essentially losing all their previous key relievers in one fell swoop, it sank their bullpens competitiveness for the whole season.

The FO certainly has some work to do, in order to ensure that next years bullpen has some added firepower to be more competitive. However over the course of a season, having a core strength of a team turn into the biggest liability is hard to see coming, for any front office.

Defense is not the solution

Not everything about the Blue Jays has regressed over the past couple seasons. The Blue Jays defense has not only been vastly improved from previous years, but it has emerged as one of the best in all of baseball. Since 2023, the Blue Jays have 162 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), which is 1st in all of MLB. The FO has emphasized a need to improve the defense, but has it equated to an improved team?

Despite leading MLB in DRS and UZR in 2024, the Blue Jays still possessed a 4.29 ERA, which was 8th worst in baseball. The real issue stems from the fact that 208 home runs were hit off of the Blue Jays, while only hitting 156 of their own. That's a -52 home run difference, with the only team with a lower differential being the White Sox (-68).

With such an alarming rate at giving up home runs, while not scoring enough of their own, the defense is insufficient, not being given enough of an opportunity to even make a difference. Without offensive support to alleviate the pressure, the team’s defensive strengths are overshadowed, putting them at a constant disadvantage and ultimately compromising their chances to stay competitive in games.

A good defense is a good thing to have. Daulton Varsho is still one of the best defenders in all of baseball, Alejandro Kirk has emerged as one of the leagues finest defensive catchers, and the Jays still have a plethora of good defensive infielders at their disposal in Ernie Clement, Leo Jimenez, and Will Wagner. However whether that defense is once again the best in the majors, or moves down to "just good" will not be the reason for their success or failure next season.

The AL East is not going anywhere

One of the harshest realities for Blue Jays fans is that the AL East is as tough as ever. While Toronto has improved and added talent, so have their rivals. The top of the AL East is remains competitive year after year, making it a constant uphill battle for the Blue Jays to secure a playoff spot, let alone win the division.

The Baltimore Orioles are competitive in the AL East for several reasons due to a mix of young talent and strategic player development. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees’ financial resources allow them to bounce back quickly despite any ups and downs, making it difficult for the Blue Jays to bounce back effortlessly after a down season. The Tampa Bay Rays will also aim to be competitive in the AL East due to their innovative approach to team-building and a deep commitment to analytics. Despite having one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, the Rays manage to maximize value by identifying and developing under-the-radar talent, often turning overlooked players into high-impact contributors. The AL East is one of the hardest divisions to dominate, and Toronto will have to deal with that pressure yet again in 2025.

For fans, the idea of being in a constant fight for wild-card spots or falling short of postseason hopes despite a solid roster is frustrating. However, in the current AL East, that is the reality the Jays must accept and work to overcome.

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