Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins was reappointed. Although this season ended unfortunately, the total annual salary will be maintained at over $250 million next year, making it possible for General Manager Atkins to take aggressive actions. Attention is being paid to whether General Manager Atkins, who recruited Ryu Hyun-jin (36) in the free agent market four years ago, will catch him again.
Toronto President Mark Shapiro announced at the season-ending press conference , that General Manager Atkins will remain in his position. General Manager Atkins signed a five-year extension contract with Toronto in April 2021, guaranteed until 2026.
General Manager Atkins, who was a pitcher as an active player, played for five seasons in the minor league under the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians), retired, and then transitioned to the front office. He started as assistant director of player development in Cleveland in 2001 and rose to vice president of player personnel in 2014.
General Manager Atkins, who was appointed Toronto general manager in December 2015, led the team for eight seasons until this year. During his tenure, the team advanced to the postseason four times. Through the rebuilding process from 2017 to 2019, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette were established as pillars of the team, and since 2020, the team has advanced to fall baseball three times in the past four years.
Starting with pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin (4 years, $80 million) in 2020, outfielder George Springer (6 years, $150 million) in 2021, pitcher Kevin Gausman (5 years, $110 million) in 2022, and Chris Bassett this year (5 years, $110 million). They continued to recruit significant free agents, such as 3 years ($63 million), and made aggressive investments by signing an extension for pitcher Jose Berrios (7 years, $131 million), who was brought in by trade during the 2021 season.
This year, they built the most expensive team in club history (total annual salary of $258 million) and even paid the luxury tax for the first time, but it ended in vain with two consecutive wild card losses in the fall baseball season. In a situation where general manager Atkins was blamed for losing in the first game of all three recent fall baseball games, President Shapiro made it clear that he intended to be reappointed.
According to local media such as Canada’s ‘Sportsnet’, President Shapiro said, “We cannot deny the achievements of General Manager Atkins. “Over the past four years, we have had the 6th best record in the American League, advanced to the postseason three times, and built a team with great leadership,” he said. “We have put our team in a position to be even better next year.” .
However, regarding changing starting pitcher Jose Berrios, who had been pitching well with no runs in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, to 47 pitches as soon as he walked the first batter in the 4th inning, he said, “I knew the game plan, but I didn’t know when I would do it. “I knew it the moment Coach John Schneider stepped on the mound,” he said. “There is a need for a higher level of transparency and communication with the players in the process of creating a game plan.”
Regarding the uncomfortable atmosphere between Coach Schneider and General Manager Atkins regarding this decision, President Shapiro said, “There is no awkwardness between the two. The responsibility lies with me at the top. I’m not trying to say that Coach Schneider or General Manager Atkins made a mistake. We all make mistakes, and we all have to learn from them and become better. “I have confidence in Coach Schneider,” he said, expressing trust in not only the general manager but also the coach.
In addition, President Shapiro said about next year’s team salary, “We are talking with the team’s owner group, and it does not appear that there will be any significant change in philosophy. It will remain at a similar level. “It is clear that we will not be rebuilding next year,” he said, implying that he will continue to strengthen his power this winter.
Toronto has Hyun-jin Ryu, Matt Chapman, Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Belt, Whit Merrifield, and Jordan Hicks released as free agents. It is highly likely that the salaries of Guerrero and Jordan Romano, who are eligible for salary adjustment, will receive a significant increase, but there will be some room in the payroll. The lack of bats needs to be strengthened, but the problem is that there are not many premium items on the market. There is interest in whether Ryu Hyun-jin’s contract may be renewed on a short-term basis with the remaining money. Ryu Hyun-jin expressed his intention to remain in the Major League, and General Manager Atkins also left open the possibility of a contract renewal, saying, “Ryu Hyun-jin could be an alternative.”
BY: 토토사이트웹
