The Toronto Blue Jays have been a contender for each of the last four seasons.
From 2020 to 2023, they made the playoffs three times and finished with a 91-71 record the year in which they missed them (2021).
They have put together an impressive collection of talent, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, and Kevin Gausman, among others.
However, things haven’t been going their way in 2024.
It’s still very early, but they are last in the AL East with a 16-19 record.
They are the only team in the division with a sub-.500 record, but perhaps the most shocking development to this point is their -37 run differential.
There might be some rumblings that they could become sellers at the deadline, but analyst Jake Storiale doesn’t think that’s possible.
“Jake thinks the Blue Jays are too talented to sell,” “Wake n Jake” tweeted.
Jake thinks the Blue Jays are too talented to sell pic.twitter.com/Q0AgDYRwcO
He probably has a point.
Yes, we have seen teams with more talent sell at the deadline, but these Blue Jays are built to compete in 2024.
The host states that he knows he could be wrong, but he doesn’t see Toronto selling its assets despite a middle of the pack rotation and one of the worst bullpens in the league.
With more attention to the bullpen and a few reinforcements – one of them, Orelvis Martinez, is already in the organization – there is a path toward contention for the Blue Jays.
There are five months of the regular season remaining, so there is still plenty of time to look for alternatives and replacements in the spots that need them.
The core is still solid, with Danny Jansen, Guerrero, Bichette, Springer, Justin Turner, Davis Schneider, Daulton Varsho, Jose Berrios, Yusei Kikuchi, Gausman, and others.
The resources are there for them to compete.