Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said “everything needs to be assessed” after the Blue Jays finished last in the American League East at 79-83.
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Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said at a season-ending media availability on Wednesday at Rogers Centre that “everything needs to be assessed,” adding that the club plans to “drill down in every area.”
Team president Mark Shapiro was scheduled to hold his own media session later in the day.
The Blue Jays missed the playoffs this year after reaching the World Series last fall, finishing last in the American League East Division standings with a 79-83 record. Toronto capped the season last Sunday with a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Atkins’ comments came after a campaign marked by underperformance and injuries, with the team falling from first to worst in the division. Toronto also had a late-season slide that included seven losses in nine games, which sealed their fate down the stretch.
Several key changes also came in the previous off-season, including the departures of homegrown shortstop Bo Bichette, veteran starter Chris Bassitt and bench coach Don Mattingly.
A central question for Toronto this year was the performance of first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit nine home runs and did not find his rhythm at the plate. Injuries to starting pitchers stretched the rotation thin and heavily taxed the bullpen, which was one of the team’s few strong points.
Offensively, Toronto led the major leagues in several hitting categories last season but finished last this season in home runs, and near the bottom in OPS and slugging percentage. Team defence also regressed after a strong 2025.
There were positives in the run to the finish, including Dylan Cease emerging as Toronto’s bona fide ace and Rule 5 pick Spencer Miles posting a strong rookie season on the mound. Louis Varland also shone when he took over the closer’s role, while Kazuma Okamoto had a season that included 33 home runs and 92 RBIs.
The Blue Jays missed the playoffs for the third time in seven seasons.
Looking ahead, Toronto is scheduled to kick off its pre-season on Feb. 19, with the labour front creating uncertainty because the collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and its players’ association is set to expire on Dec. 1. The Blue Jays’ regular-season opener is set for March 25 at New York.
Toronto’s payroll was about US$275 million this year, and it currently has about $195 million on the books for next season. The team expects to be boosted by the return of several key offensive players after extended injury absences, including slugger Anthony Santander, who missed the entire 2026 season, and outfielder Addison Barger, who played just nine games.
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