The Toronto Blue Jays were serious contenders to sign Shohei Ohtani last offseason but ultimately lost out to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This missed opportunity set the stage for a disappointing 2024 season, where the Jays did little to improve and ended with a 74-88 record, finishing last in the AL East. Despite the frustration of the past season, General Manager Ross Atkins has a chance to turn things around during the 2024 offseason. The team has significant roster gaps, but with ample financial resources and a deep pool of top-tier free agents, Atkins could help the Jays make a strong recovery.

However, recent reports suggest the Jays are in danger of another underwhelming offseason. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the team’s pursuit of star player Juan Soto is unlikely to succeed unless they make a significantly higher offer than the New York Mets. Nightengale points out that with key players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette entering their final years before free agency, the Jays would need to go far beyond matching offers to stand a chance of signing Soto. This lack of progress on extensions for Guerrero and Bichette makes Toronto’s pursuit of high-end free agents even more challenging.

While missing out on Soto is disappointing, it was always a possibility. The problem for the Jays, however, is that they also face tough competition for other top targets like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Anthony Santander. Nightengale reports that Toronto would have to make an exceptionally strong offer to land any of these players. This puts the Jays in a difficult position: either overpay for a free agent in a bid to remain competitive, or watch as top talent signs elsewhere, leaving the team with a weakened roster.

Unless the Jays can secure a contract extension for Guerrero or make a bold move to secure key free agents, it’s hard to see how this offseason could be considered a success. For Atkins, whose job could be on the line, failing to improve the roster could lead to disaster.