Following a disappointing 2024 MLB season, the Toronto Blue Jays face an offseason filled with necessary changes. While general manager Ross Atkins has been confirmed to return for the 2025 season, other adjustments are already underway. Several personnel have been dismissed, including hitting coach Guillermo Martinez, field coordinator Gil Kim, and bullpen coach Jeff Ware. Additionally, assistant pitching coach David Howell and offensive coordinator Don Mattingly have been reassigned.

However, these changes are just the beginning. The Blue Jays must make further moves in the coming months to regain their competitive edge. Here are four immediate changes they need to implement to address the disappointing 2024 season.

 Move George Springer from the Leadoff Spot

Star outfielder George Springer has long been recognized as an elite leadoff hitter, but it may be time for him to step away from that role. In 2024, Springer had his worst season in the leadoff position since he made it permanent with the Houston Astros in 2016. He posted a disappointing .214 batting average with a .640 OPS, scoring only 50 runs, hitting 13 doubles, 12 home runs, and driving in 33 RBIs while stealing 14 bases over 101 games.

Given the clear signs of regression from the 35-year-old veteran, the Blue Jays should consider moving Springer out of the leadoff role in favor of a more traditional hitter who can effectively get on base and drive in runs. Keeping Springer further down the lineup could allow him to focus on run production, creating a potentially beneficial situation for both him and the team if he is willing to adapt for the sake of the Blue Jays.

 Sacrifice Defense for Offense

Not long ago, the Blue Jays were among the top offensive teams in the league, ranking in the top five across several key offensive statistics just two years ago. However, as their defensive performance declined, the team shifted its strategy to prioritize defense, often at the expense of their offensive capabilities.

This shift led to the departure of power hitters like Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Teoscar Hernández, and Brandon Belt in favor of more defensively-oriented players such as Kevin Kiermaier, Daulton Varsho, and most recently, Isiah Kiner-Falefa. What has this strategy yielded? Two consecutive seasons with declining records and significant struggles to score runs. In fact, this season, the Jays found themselves in the bottom third of the league in multiple offensive categories. Their inability to generate runs was evident as they ranked second-to-last in come-from-behind victories, managing only 25 all season. Essentially, if the team fell behind in a game, staging a comeback proved to be a significant challenge.

To rectify this, the Blue Jays need to abandon their current approach and return to an offense-first mentality. Their offseason focus should be on strengthening their offense, even if it means sacrificing some defensive stability. It’s clear that the team experienced greater success with this strategy in the past, which also resulted in more exciting baseball for fans. As they explore options in free agency, the Jays should prioritize offense above all else.

Complete Bullpen Overhaul is Essential

As the Blue Jays entered the 2024 season, their bullpen was one of the least concerning aspects of the team. With closer Jordan Romano leading the way, Toronto’s relief unit had ranked among the best in the league in 2023, finishing third in saves, fourth in losses and WHIP, eighth in ERA, and eleventh in opponents’ batting average. Given that most of the bullpen core remained intact, the Jays anticipated continued success from this reliable group.

However, the 2024 season turned into a disaster for almost the entire bullpen. Stricken by injuries and inconsistency, the relief corps became the team’s Achilles’ heel. Normally reliable pitchers like Romano, Erik Swanson, Trevor Richards, Tim Mayza, and Chad Green all struggled significantly, while returning players such as Nate Pearson, Zach Pop, and Genesis Cabrera failed to make a meaningful impact. When the team sought bullpen reinforcements throughout the season, the makeshift replacements also fell short. The only silver linings were Yimi García, who was traded at the deadline, and Ryan Yarbrough, who is now headed to free agency.

To get back on track, a complete overhaul of the bullpen is absolutely necessary. There’s no assurance that Romano, Swanson, Green, and the other returning pitchers will regain their former dominance in 2025. Furthermore, having a strong pitching depth will be crucial, especially given the team’s struggles this past season when they needed additional arms. This significant change should begin as soon as the free agency period opens, as there are plenty of viable options available in the market to address their issues.

Sign Vladdy to an Extension and Make Him the Face of the Franchise

For some time, there was an intense debate about who should be considered the face of the Blue Jays franchise: Bo Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. While Guerrero’s performance had seen a gradual decline since his MVP-caliber season in 2021, Bichette emerged as a consistently top hitter during the same period. As a result, many believed the Jays should prioritize an extension for the star shortstop.

However, the tumultuous 2024 season for both players has changed the dynamics for the Jays. Bichette had one of the worst seasons of his MLB career, posting a dismal .225 batting average and .598 OPS, with just 29 runs scored, 4 home runs, and 31 RBIs over 81 games. Injuries throughout the season likely contributed to his lackluster performance.

In contrast, after a rough start to 2024, Guerrero rebounded dramatically, often carrying the team on his shoulders. By the end of the season, he had shown his superstar potential, finishing with an impressive .323 average, .940 OPS, 98 runs scored, 44 doubles, 30 home runs, and 103 RBIs, just one hit shy of 200 for the season. There’s no doubt that prime Vladdy is back.

With Bichette’s name circulating in trade rumors throughout the summer, Guerrero made it clear that he wanted to remain with the Jays and compete for a championship. Given this commitment, the Jays must prioritize a long-term extension for Guerrero instead of Bichette if their goal is to win. Furthermore, with Guerrero’s dedication to the organization, management should officially designate him as the face of the franchise to help lead the team to future success.