Few general managers are facing more pressure to succeed this offseason than Ross Atkins. After the Toronto Blue Jays’ disappointing 2024 season, the 2025 campaign looms large as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are entering their final year under team control. Atkins must build a competitive team now. Jays fans had hoped for more significant moves at this year’s Winter Meetings, but those expectations weren’t met. The Jays aggressively pursued Juan Soto, but that effort ultimately fell short. Max Fried appeared to be a sensible backup target, but Atkins missed out there as well.
Rather than making a high-profile signing, Atkins surprised many by trading for Andrés Giménez, a move that strengthened Toronto’s biggest asset—its defense. However, the trade did little to address the team’s most pressing need: additional offensive power. That was Atkins’ marquee move at the Winter Meetings. While there’s still time left in the offseason, Jays fans are understandably growing frustrated, having hoped for more during the team’s time in Dallas. Here are three key regrets Atkins should have from his Winter Meetings experience.
- Ross Atkins Hesitates to Use the Money at His Disposal
It’s no secret the Blue Jays have money to spend. They were heavily involved in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes until he ultimately chose the Los Angeles Dodgers. That financial flexibility was expected to go toward signing Juan Soto, but reports indicate the Jays were never close to landing him. Yes, Soto was likely overpaid, but that’s often the price for securing a generational talent on a Hall of Fame trajectory. While it’s unclear if the Jays could’ve outbid other teams, the fact remains they weren’t even close to signing him.
As if missing out on Soto wasn’t enough, the Jays also failed to make Max Fried an offer, despite rumors of strong interest. Fried also ended up with a higher-than-expected contract, but once again, overpaying is often necessary to secure top-tier talent.
For a Blue Jays team playing in a market that some players are reluctant to join, and coming off a disappointing 74-win season with an uncertain future, it’s likely they would need to overpay to attract top talent. Yet, reports suggest the Jays never even made an offer to Max Fried. It’s one thing to outbid others and still lose a player; another to simply get outbid; but not offering at all is a slap in the face to Jays fans.
At this point, it’s unclear what Atkins’ plan is. The Jays clearly want to win, but they haven’t made any significant moves. Unless they somehow land Corbin Burnes, it’s hard to see them adding a true star to their roster. The question remains: how do they improve by the 15 wins necessary to make the postseason? The path forward is tough to discern.
- Ross Atkins’ Biggest Mistake: Trading Spencer Horwitz
While many things went wrong for the Jays last season, their offense was among the worst in the league, despite Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s standout performance. Toronto ranked 23rd in runs scored, 26th in home runs, and tied for 17th in OPS in 2024. With an offense that struggled so badly, it’s difficult to see how they could make the postseason without significant improvements in that area. Trading Spencer Horwitz, a promising offensive prospect, was a questionable decision given the team’s need for offensive depth.
Instead of strengthening the offense, Atkins ended up trading one of the team’s most productive hitters. While Spencer Horwitz played just 97 games, he made an impact, slashing .265/.357/.433 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs. His 125 OPS+ marked him as an above-average offensive contributor.
Yes, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is firmly entrenched as the team’s first baseman, and Horwitz wasn’t a fit at second base, but the DH spot remains wide open. Additionally, the possibility of Guerrero leaving after the season is real, and Horwitz could have served as an internal replacement in that scenario.
Had the Jays traded Horwitz for a proven hitter, it might have made sense, but that’s not what happened. Given the state of the offense, which clearly needs improvement, moving a young hitter with promising potential in a solid sample size doesn’t seem like the best choice.
- Ross Atkins Should Have Avoided Andres Gimenez’s Contract
At one point, Andres Gimenez seemed poised to be a breakout star. In 2022, he hit 17 home runs, stole 20 bases, posted an .837 OPS, and accumulated 7.4 bWAR. He was an All-Star, won a Gold Glove, and finished sixth in AL MVP voting. However, he hasn’t come close to matching that level of production since.
While Gimenez remains one of the best defensive infielders in the game, with back-to-back Gold Gloves to his name, his offensive numbers have been underwhelming. In 2023, he posted a .712 OPS, and in 2024, that dipped to a troubling .638 OPS. His OPS+ was 96 in 2023 and just 82 in 2024.
The Jays are already a strong defensive team, and what they really need is offensive help. That makes it all the more puzzling that they traded Spencer Horwitz—who showed promise as a hitter—for Gimenez, whose bat has been far less productive.
To make matters worse, Gimenez’s contract is far from ideal. He’s set to earn $10.5 million this season, $15.5 million next year, and $23.5 million in the following three seasons, with a $23 million club option for 2030. If Gimenez can rediscover his bat, the deal could be a bargain, but if not, it becomes a major financial burden. Given his recent struggles at the plate, it’s hard to understand why the Jays would willingly take on this contract, especially when it doesn’t address their biggest need—offensive firepower.