Takeaways from Blue Jays’ 2026 end-of-season press conferences
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
By Thomas Hall
Sep 30, 2026, 14:45 EDTUpdated: Sep 30, 2026, 14:47 EDT
TORONTO — The only solace in a lost, disappointing season like this is that it provides a head start on the reflection and evaluation process, which is firmly underway for the Blue Jays’ front office as a playoff-less October arrives — their second in three seasons.
On September’s final day, the organization held its end-of-season media availabilities for general manager Ross Atkins, who spoke first, and president and CEO Mark Shapiro. They each shared similar sentiments about the missed opportunity this past season’s mediocre American League provided and about accepting responsibility for letting down the country’s fanbase.
No matter how much the goalposts moved, shifting from defending their AL East crown to making a run at sneaking into the final wild-card spot, there isn’t a way to put a positive spin on missing the post-season less than 12 months after being served a heartbreaking World Series Game 7 loss to the Dodgers.
“I think most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the accountability, the responsibility that I have. I’m very disappointed that we’re here sitting here today,” Atkins said following the club’s last-place finish in the AL East at 79-83.“I’m very grateful for the support that we’ve had. The fans have been incredible. To see that was really impressive and also very difficult for us… I think ultimately that they fought hard until the end, and it wasn’t enough.”
Here are the notable takeaways and tidbits from Atkins and Shapiro.
Offensive improvements top priority
Everything starts with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Finding a way to carve out a return-to-form performance in 2027 will, without even adding anything further, immediately transform the makeup of Toronto’s offence. But considering where he finished the ’26 campaign, it’s unclear where his production will ultimately land.
In response to questions about Guerrero’s struggles, Atkins pointed to having a much better canvas to work with, no longer needing to make these mechanical adjustments in-season. He also said that once the 27-year-old slugger lost some of his “rhythm and timing,” that also began to take a toll on his confidence at the plate.
Where this goes from here is up to Guerrero. But as much as the Blue Jays are counting on an uptick from internal improvements, which he’s a massive part of — as is the potential return of Addison Barger and Anthony Santander — there’ll also need to be an element of external additions.
“Offensively, we never gained any momentum,” Atkins said. “We never put the ball in the seats. We were not walking. We’re not getting on base nearly enough. When that happens, you’re relying on line drives and gaps, and the contact just wasn’t enough.”
Toronto’s front office will continue to act aggressively in free agency when the market opens in early November. Adding more dynamic, impactful hitters to this group will be the main focus — Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki, Brandon Lowe and Japan’s Teruaki Sato will be the top free-agent bats available, each of whom is expected to receive interest from management.
The most logical opportunity for improvement likely figures to be a corner outfield spot. Having said that, given how versatile the current position-player group is, maintaining flexibility and securing the best players available must take precedence.
“With the players we have, they give us a strong starting point,” Shapiro said. “But I also know the track record speaks for itself. Ross is not going to rest on what we have. He’s going to look for a way to get better.”
Expect Toronto to remain involved in the Pacific-Rim market this winter, too. The organization, which understands its international exposure in those areas aren’t a one-year job and will remain a gradual build, intends to send a contingency overseas in the coming months. Shapiro himself might even make a subsequent trip to Japan afterwards.
Building blocks in place on pitching front
Despite enduring countless injury blows, the Blue Jays’ brass feels confident about where their core pitching strengths are headed into next year. From a starting rotation standpoint, the trio of Dylan Cease, José Soriano and Trey Yesavage is already locked in, which Atkins described as a “really good starting point.”
The team will also have Cody Ponce returning from a torn ACL, Bowden Francis back from Tommy John surgery, plus a full season from Spencer Arrighetti as internal options to round out the starting five. Down at Triple-A, Jake Bloss should be fully recovered from a teres major strain that cut short his impressive return from TJ, and a wave of prospects (Nolan Perry, Danny Thompson Jr., Daniel Guerra, Gage Stanifer and Johnny King) will provide an exciting layer of future output.
An external addition or two will be necessary, opening the door for a potential reunion with Kevin Gausman or Shane Bieber, but pathways to procure a higher-ceiling signing or trade will be explored by the front office, too.
In the bullpen, there’s also a strong core to build around for ’27, headlined by closer Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers, Mason Fluharty, Braydon Fisher and possibly Spencer Miles — depending on if he returns as a reliever or is stretched out as a starter next spring. On the depth side, late-season auditions from Ricky Tiedemann, as well as José Rodríguez and Brendan Cellucci, offered an early look at next season’s layer of MLB depth.
“Encouraged by some of the performances of guys that came up from the minor leagues that aren’t quite as heralded as Ricky Tiedemann, but that was encouraging as well,” Atkins said on the organization’s bullpen depth for next year.
Fortifying that back-end group, especially after trading Jeff Hoffman at last season’s deadline, will be necessary this winter, whether that’s via free agency — Adrian Morejon figures to be the top reliever available — or trade, or both.
“But I do feel good about our starting point there with the back end of our bullpen,” he added.
TBD on potential coaching changes
Part of the organization’s evaluation plan over the next month will include the coaching staff, deciding whether any changes will occur in manager John Schneider’s dugout for next season. They haven’t decided if everyone will return.
“We feel good about the groups in place, and we’re going to work through that process,” Atkins said.
As a minor note, Schneider’s two-year extension — agreed to following last fall’s run to the World Series — will kick in at the start of ’27.
Operating as “Business as usual” amid expected CBA-related lockout
Until something changes, the Blue Jays are planning to operate as they normally would in any off-season leading up to the expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement on Dec. 1.
“We will be prepared right from the start,” Atkins said, acknowledging they’ll prepare multiple potential scenarios in case of potential changes to MLB’s financial landscape. “We’re operating business as usual and ready, ready to go from day one.”
If MLB does implement a salary cap next season, however, the early expectation is that all 30 teams will receive a grace period to become cap-compliant. It won’t come into effect immediately, and if it does, the franchise will turn to one of the many alternative scenarios they’ll draw up over the next few months.
“This is the seventh time I’ve gone through a labour [dispute] in a 35-year career, so nothing new for me to go through it,” Shapiro said. “The way you go through it is you prepare under the current system, and then you adjust along the way.“Any new system adopted, there will be a time frame for adjustment into that system.”
Payroll-wise, Toronto hasn’t finalized its spending limits — under MLB’s current system — for next season yet. But the front office expects to receive a similar commitment from ownership as it has in previous seasons. They operated with a $300-plus million luxury-tax payroll for the first time in this franchise’s history this past season.
Not expecting potential lockout to disrupt Rule 5 draft (for now)
During the 2021-22 off-season, the last time MLB faced a work stoppage, that winter’s Rule 5 draft was cancelled, as were the Winter Meetings — where that draft is held. Right now, under the Blue Jays’ optimistic view that MLB can avoid another owners-imposed lockout, they’re operating under the assumption that this winter’s R5 draft will remain intact.
If that ends up being the case, the protection deadline on Nov. 18 would require them to decide on whether to protect eligible prospects such as Perry, Stanifer and Guerra on the pitching side, as well as names like Jay Harry, Josh Kasevich and Edward Duran on the position-player front.
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