Offseason Personnel Changes Begin for Blue Jays

Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings begin on Sunday, December 4 in San Diego, CA.

With the team already having made a sizeable splash in the trade market with the November deal that saw beloved outfielder Teoscar Hernández moved to Seattle in exchange for reliever Erik Swanson and prospect Adam Macko, the attention will shift to the obligatory managerial duties including the Draft Lottery and Rule 5 Draft – as per the weekend schedule.

But for general manager Ross Striping and his associates, the real work will be done behind the scenes as he attempts to begin negotiations with fellow managers and player agents as the offseason kicks into high gear.

It is no secret that Toronto’s pitching needs improvement for 2023. With all due respect to Alek Manoah, Jose Berrios and Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays’ starting five were not the cream of the crop last year. Another bell-cow will need to be added to the rotation if the team hopes to remain near the top of the American League come postseason time.

With fill-in, Ross Stripling opting to test the free agent market, Toronto’s only other sizeable loss from last year’s roster (via free agency) will be David Phelps. 

Around Full Press Coverage

NFL OPINION: Morten Andersen: The Toughest Place To Kick? For Me, It Was This Place

NFL: NFL 2022: Five Key Statistics for Week 2

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs Stock Report: Week 2 2022

FULL PRESS BETS: NFL MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes Leapfrogs Josh Allen For Top Spot

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Fantasy Football Value Picks In Every Round

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 54: Chargers At Chiefs Preview

The infield will remain as it has been the past couple of seasons, with Vladimir Guerrero, Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman, Santiago Espinal, Cavan Biggio, and Whit Merrifield rotating in and out of roles nearest the mound.

The outfield, well, it’s a bit more complicated with Merrifield subbing in as needed following the loss of Hernandez’s right-field role. The oft-injured George Springer will maintain centre, while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will be a mainstay in left. Considering Springer has played in just 65 percent of the Blue Jays’ games since signing his massive six-year, $150 million contract two years ago, Toronto will need to consider adding at least two outfielders to the mix for 2023.

Earlier this offseason, Toronto released position player Raimel Tapia, designating him for assignment alongside Bradley Zimmer.

With three quality catchers at his fingertips, Atkins may turn to one of Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk or Gabriel Moreno as a key piece being shipped away in a deal that sees a quality outfielder or starting pitcher join the crew.

With recent history showing Atkins has been able to sway some big-name free agents to Canada, a signing or two certainly isn’t out of the equation.

Earlier this week, the team announced the addition of bench coach Don Mattingly. The 61-year-old former player-turned-coach has been around the game his entire life while playing at the MLB level for 14 seasons before serving both the Dodgers and Marlins in various roles through the 2022 season.

“Experience and credibility are words that get used a lot in professional sports, in life and in corporate worlds,” said Atkins of Mattingly’s demeanour, “But it’s hard to quantify exactly how valuable that is. I think it’s something that will create a calming impact and influence. It will help not only with performance and lack thereof, but also with accountability, which will be huge for us.”

Mattingly will join new clubhouse manager John Schneider, Luis Rivera and Mark Budzinski and their staff for the 2023 season.

“John’s role was the most important to me,” Mattingly said. “After I talked to Ross, I loved that conversation we had. Early on with Ross, I was like, ‘John’s got to be 100% comfortable with me.’ My role, I look at it as I’m here to support John in anything he wants me to do. He’ll define that role as it goes. That was the most important thing for me, getting comfortable with John and, more than anything, John getting comfortable with me.”

Another individual that Blue Jays fans have been comfortable with for what has seemed like ‘forever’ is former Blue Jays baseman-turned-broadcaster Pat Tabler. With Buck Martinez rumoured to be considering retirement, his longtime broadcast partner Tabler (of 17 years) has announced he is stepping down from his role with the Blue Jays and Rogers Sportsnet.

“For the last 32 years, first as a player for the Blue Jays and then as a broadcaster, it has been my honour to serve you,” The 64-year-old Tabler shared in a statement on Friday. “I hope that I represented you with the class and dignity that you deserve. It was a great run, but all good things have to come to an end… You have helped to make this the most incredible 32 years of my life and I will miss you. So a big “Thank You” for letting me share Blue Jays baseball with you. The best is yet to come.”

If Atkins and company can find a way to lure a big-name pitcher and fielder to Toronto for 2023, the ‘best’ that Tabler has hinted at may come sooner than some may even expect.