<p>Kevin Goldstein of FanGraphs has been writing some excellent pieces bringing insight into how Major League front offices operate. His recent post &#8220;<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/front-office-conference-call-agendas-american-league/">Front Office Conference Call Agenda: American League</a>&#8221; focuses on each AL team and what they are talking about on their monthly conference call with the team leadership group. This is a time where teams evaluate where they are at a month into the season, and start planning for the rest of the year.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Here is what Goldstein wrote on the Blue Jays:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<blockquote><p>We should be happy to be over .500, but we don’t really have a good feel for who we are as a team yet, as our big free agent spent most of the month hurt, and now our ace is on the shelf, but at least it’s not with an arm issue.</p></blockquote>
</li>
<li>
<blockquote><p>Our starting pitching depth was a bit shaky to start the year, and injuries have absolutely killed us. We’re a bit desperate here, even if it’s just another Tommy Milone-type — someone who can just pick up some innings for us. Has anyone been in touch with Aníbal Sánchez’s agent? Any weird free agents with any attractive qualities still out there?</p></blockquote>
</li>
<li>
<blockquote><p>The bullpen is pretty good, right?</p></blockquote>
</li>
<li>
<blockquote><p>Can we get Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to talk to his older brother and ask about what he did to start drawing walks?</p></blockquote>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Goldstien lays out some very good discussion points here. I have put my discussion points below and divided them up into three sections: short-term, long-term and future. Short-term are topics that need to be addressed immediately. Long-term are topics more geared toward the trade deadline and second half of the season. Future topics are geared toward the off-season and next year, they are in all likelihood are not being discussed too thoroughly at this time.</p>
<h2><strong>Short-Term</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li>The rotation needs improvement. Both short-term and long-term. Who are we keeping tabs on and who might be available to us come July?</li>
<li>What’s going on with Steven Matz? Is this simply a rough patch for him or something we need to be concerned with?</li>
<li>What do we do at catcher? Alejandro Kirk is going to be out six weeks and Danny Jansen is underperforming. Reese McGuire is back but he doesn’t have a good track record offensively either. We need to identify catchers who may be available in case we reach a point where we need to make a change.</li>
<li>Are we worried about the defence on the left side of the infield? Do we need an upgrade there? Doesn’t necessarily need to be a Trevor Story or José Ramírez but what about Kyle Seager?</li>
<li>George Springer is back on the injured list. Status quo with the outfield until he gets back?</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Long-Term</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li>The bullpen is good but they are throwing a lot of innings. We need to be prepared to bring in reinforcements to avoid burnout and overuse.</li>
<li>We need to keep a very close eye on Nate Pearson and Alek Manoah. How are they throwing in AAA and could they be mid-season additions to the bullpen and/or rotation?</li>
<li>We are expected to be buyers at the deadline, what prospects do we like and what ones are we willing to part with in trade?</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Future</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li>Are we sold on Bo Bichette as our shortstop? Are we planning to be a player for one of the big free agent shortstops? What’s George Springer’s relationship like with Carlos Correa?</li>
<li>Updates on Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans. Is one emerging as a shortstop and how are they handling CF and 3B respectively? Are the bats developing enough that we think one of them can help us as early as 2022?</li>
<li>As things stand Marcus Semien is getting a qualifying offer. Does our off-season plan change if he accepts?</li>
</ul>

Kevin Goldstein of FanGraphs has been writing some excellent pieces bringing insight into how Major League front offices operate. His recent post "<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/front-office-conference-call-agendas-american-league/">Front Office Conference Call Agenda: American League</a>" focuses on each AL team and what they are talking about on their monthly conference call with the team leadership group. This is a time where teams evaluate where they are at a month into the season, and start planning for the rest of the year.



Here is what Goldstein wrote on the Blue Jays:
<ul>
 	<li>
<blockquote>We should be happy to be over .500, but we don’t really have a good feel for who we are as a team yet, as our big free agent spent most of the month hurt, and now our ace is on the shelf, but at least it’s not with an arm issue.</blockquote>
</li>
 	<li>
<blockquote>Our starting pitching depth was a bit shaky to start the year, and injuries have absolutely killed us. We’re a bit desperate here, even if it’s just another Tommy Milone-type — someone who can just pick up some innings for us. Has anyone been in touch with Aníbal Sánchez’s agent? Any weird free agents with any attractive qualities still out there?</blockquote>
</li>
 	<li>
<blockquote>The bullpen is pretty good, right?</blockquote>
</li>
 	<li>
<blockquote>Can we get Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to talk to his older brother and ask about what he did to start drawing walks?</blockquote>
</li>
</ul>
Goldstien lays out some very good discussion points here. I have put my discussion points below and divided them up into three sections: short-term, long-term and future. Short-term are topics that need to be addressed immediately. Long-term are topics more geared toward the trade deadline and second half of the season. Future topics are geared toward the off-season and next year, they are in all likelihood are not being discussed too thoroughly at this time.
<h2><strong>Short-Term</strong></h2>
<ul>
 	<li>The rotation needs improvement. Both short-term and long-term. Who are we keeping tabs on and who might be available to us come July?</li>
 	<li>What’s going on with Steven Matz? Is this simply a rough patch for him or something we need to be concerned with?</li>
 	<li>What do we do at catcher? Alejandro Kirk is going to be out six weeks and Danny Jansen is underperforming. Reese McGuire is back but he doesn’t have a good track record offensively either. We need to identify catchers who may be available in case we reach a point where we need to make a change.</li>
 	<li>Are we worried about the defence on the left side of the infield? Do we need an upgrade there? Doesn’t necessarily need to be a Trevor Story or José Ramírez but what about Kyle Seager?</li>
 	<li>George Springer is back on the injured list. Status quo with the outfield until he gets back?</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Long-Term</strong></h2>
<ul>
 	<li>The bullpen is good but they are throwing a lot of innings. We need to be prepared to bring in reinforcements to avoid burnout and overuse.</li>
 	<li>We need to keep a very close eye on Nate Pearson and Alek Manoah. How are they throwing in AAA and could they be mid-season additions to the bullpen and/or rotation?</li>
 	<li>We are expected to be buyers at the deadline, what prospects do we like and what ones are we willing to part with in trade?</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Future</strong></h2>
<ul>
 	<li>Are we sold on Bo Bichette as our shortstop? Are we planning to be a player for one of the big free agent shortstops? What’s George Springer’s relationship like with Carlos Correa?</li>
 	<li>Updates on Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans. Is one emerging as a shortstop and how are they handling CF and 3B respectively? Are the bats developing enough that we think one of them can help us as early as 2022?</li>
 	<li>As things stand Marcus Semien is getting a qualifying offer. Does our off-season plan change if he accepts?</li>
</ul>

Blue Jays Front Office Conference Call Agenda

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

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