Blue Jays GM energized by AL East rivals’ busy offseason

It has never been easy to be a team in the American League East. The Toronto Blue Jays have always had their work cut out for them and 2026 is shaping up to be no exception. Even with the Blue Jays spending big with a top-five payroll, teams around them are making savvy strategic moves to remain competitive as well.

For Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins those moves seem to be igniting a fire under him that hasn't cooled off yet this winter.

Blue Jays GM energized by AL East rivals’ busy offseason

Atkins got the offseason started with a bang, signing starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year $210 million deal. This came off the news that Shane Bieber had chosen to take the option in his contract and stick around with Toronto in 2026 for $16 million. With the rotation already boosted, Atkins then signed Cody Ponce, the MVP from the Korean Baseball Organization for a three-year $30 million deal.

All of that came ahead of the Winter Meetings that weren't exactly buzzing with excitement, but there were enough moves to keep interest, especially within the AL East. The Red Sox added Sony Gray and Johan Oviedo to their rotation via trade. The Rays are bringing in outfielders Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley and reliever Steven Matz. The Yankees resigned Trent Grisham, Ryan yarbrough and Amed Rosario.

Lastly, the Orioles have been the most active adding sluggers Taylor Ward, and Pete Alonso as well as reliever Ryan Helsley as three big name players coming to the AL East. They also traded for reliever Andrew Kittredge and signed outfielder Leody Tavares in some more minor moves.

All of that action seemed to spark the competitive juices of Atkins as he told MLB Network during the Winter Meetings, "It's no stopping the AL East. It's awesome, I love being in it." And it now seems like that isn't just lip service.

For a long time, one of the issues Blue Jays fans had with how Atkins handled the team was that he never really tried to make the big splash, instead settling on finding players who could get for below market value - or waiting on guys to fit his (and his scouting staff's) evaluations. For the most part it's a strategy that has worked, if you consider that Atkins has rarely handed out contracts that come back to haunt him.

But at some point you also have to take risks and the Blue Jays' GM is starting to lean more and more in that direction now as well, albeit still very calculated risks. And maybe the most exciting part about Atkins trying to be the top player in the division is not only the fact that he's hunting down the big names, but he's also adding pieces to bolster the depth. Bringing in two relief pitchers in Chase Lee and Tyler Rogers on Friday were moves that certainly raise the floor of the Blue Jays pitching.

It doesn't look like anyone in the AL East is done revamping their roster just yet this winter and Atkins looks to be ready to keep pushing his chips in to counter what the rest of those teams are doing.