Toronto Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro revealed in a press conference that the team doesn’t plan to increase their payroll for the next season.

While the Blue Jays had one of the highest payrolls in MLB last season, it seems they aim to maintain a similar budget for 2025. Thankfully, the commitment to contending remains, as Shapiro confirmed there won’t be a payroll increase or decrease for the upcoming season. Before the trade deadline, the Blue Jays had the seventh-highest payroll. This offseason, the team faces 10 arbitration cases, the most significant being Vladimir Guerrero Jr., projected to earn $29.6 million according to MLB Trade Rumors. Cam Lewis has covered the other nine players in recent article.

However, the conflicting point is general manager Ross Atkins’ statement during the press conference. Atkins expressed the desire to be more aggressive this offseason by targeting a solid hitter, a top-tier starting pitcher, and bolstering the bullpen. Achieving these goals without an increased budget will be challenging.

Improving the bullpen will be crucial for the Jays’ contention in 2025. Atkins emphasized during his press conference that the team will actively pursue bullpen upgrades in free agency.

It almost seems as if Shapiro and Atkins are envisioning an unrealistic scenario where they can continue drafting poorly, avoid spending on free agents, and still build a World Series-caliber team.