That competitive window ideology does hold some validity rooted in the current core squad. Three veterans lead the rotation. A superstar first baseman anchors the lineup while another on the left side of second base is looking to prove he can be the hit king fans remember from years ago. A host of others are looking to prove they either belong or can break their downward slides while defensive stalwarts fill out other areas. There are some bright spots but there are also some gaps that need addressing.

It’s not the prettiest team on paper but the house has some good bones holding up the foundation in certain areas. Some areas are a strength that set the Jays apart from the division rivals. However, the house isn’t completely ready to go to the market. While the foundation is strong in some areas, there are cracks in others that have many worried that the whole thing might come crumbling down sooner rather than later. Patching those cracks and improving the Blue Jays roster is possible this winter, but it won’t be easy – signing top-tier free agents never is.

If the competitive narrative continues to be drawn forward, then general manager Ross Atkins needs to keep playing in the deep end of the free-agent pool. This current roster simply isn’t good enough to compete in the division, let alone October baseball. Toronto has done some lifting in the past five years – Ryu, Springer, Gausman – a few of the marquee free agents the club has landed to try and build a successful team around the core group. Trading for Berríos and signing him to an extension was also a win. However, these signings haven’t translated into postseason wins and that’s what fans care about at the end of the day – as they should.

Nobody wants to see this team fail unless you’re off the real deep end of the “fire Shatkins” narrative, which has its own flaws rooted within the barrage of media posts when a random free agent signs elsewhere. While the additions of the players mentioned above did help the Jays roster, they continued to fall short when it mattered the most. The pitching showed up in Minnesota two years ago in the ALWS but the bats went cold. The bats showed up in Game #2 against the Mariners in the 2022 AL Wild Card but the bullpen fell apart. When one succeeded, the other was nowhere to be found.

But what comes with chasing free agents like Ohtani and Soto even if you swing and miss shows that you’re not afraid to play in the rough waters. Take the chances and try and make magic happen.

Just because the front office missed Ohtani last year does not mean Atkins and co. can’t make further additions this off-season after Soto signed with the Mets. In hindsight, we’re probably a bit lucky that Bellinger took his talents to Chicago over Toronto last winter, given he struggled to find his 2023 form, and the pivoting free agents to pursue last offseason pale in comparison to this free agent period. Multiple front-end starters are available – Burnes, Fried, Snell (already signed) and multiple power-first bats are there for the pursuit as well. Hell – it’s still December and the Winter Meetings just got underway. There’s time to pivot and make moves, whether internal or external.

This also includes extension talks, as it’s fair to say that the Blue Jays need to either get on board or hop off that train in a hurry.

Guerrero Jr. and his camp just witnessed what a generational talent type of player can generate in free agency and while the Blue Jays slugger is not in the same realm as Soto, don’t get me wrong there, how does one not get excited about the possibilities? Each day that passes is one more day where the club loses additional wiggle room to negotiate with the first baseman and sooner or later the line will either need to be drawn in the sand or the deal gets done. Aaron Judge did the same thing with the Yankees – turned down the offer, went to free agency, and got even more from New York when other teams could bid. Extending Guerrero is a win on multiple levels for the organization – the fan base gets to see an exciting homegrown player in a Jays uniform for the foreseeable future and it’s a win for the organization who sets their expectations a little more clear about their intentions and competitive window. Do you want to prove to Burnes, Santander, or Hernandez you want to win? Keep your best player around.

There’s an obvious catch – while it all sounds fine and dandy in our conversations on social media and the numerous articles floating about – the Blue Jays front office needs to execute.

If they weren’t interested in the designated ‘top of the class’ free agents last year for whatever reason then fine, you have to lie in the bed you make, which was believing internal production would return (it didn’t) and the veteran bats they added would help fill the gaps (mixed results – I give IKF a winning grade for performing above expectations).

To do so again this offseason amidst a deep free agent pool, whether it be by choice or because players spurn the Jays, is the nail in the coffin for the front office and any competitive window narrative the club was trying to generate. There are multiple players on the market this winter that fit multiple areas of need for the roster – power bat, outfield, bullpen, versatile infield types, a third baseman – enough that even the most analytical department in the depths of the Rogers Centre can find a suitable player or two to get behind.

Atkins knows he’s on the hot seat and ownership has the finances to spend, regardless of whether the allocated ‘pursue Soto budget’ gets dipped into or not. Selfishly, because it’s not my money, it makes sense for the Jays to pivot and sign two to four players for the salary Soto would have generated this winter if he had signed with Toronto. The money for Guerrero is already earmarked in the arbitration calculations and if you need to dip into the free agent fund money then go for it – you’ll earn that back tenfold if the Blue Jays make the postseason, which is where the real earnings are anyways. Fill that fancy renovated stadium with playoff fans, not just the ‘Work From Dome’ crew.

The underlying message in all of this deep-rooted rant/article is that the Jays have the means to make this team better but need to find a way to cross the finish line in both internal and external measures. There is no reason to keep tip-toeing around extension talks with Guerrero unless he’s already made up his mind to test free agent waters – a verdict we likely will never be privy to. There’s no reason why the Blue Jays can’t throw dollars at some of the top names this winter to make this team into a contender and provide some roster stability beyond 2025.

It is still early (a Jays fans’ favourite saying) into the offseason and there is both talent available and time before Spring Training rolls around to put plans into action. However, failure to act and take advantage of the open market should lead to some swift exits this year.