Not good enough to contend

Deadline deals won’t save failed season, as organization must look to future

- GREGOR CHISHOLM

George Springer, left, celebrates Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s three-run home run in the seventh inning on Monday to put the Jays up 6-2 against the Red Sox. But once again, the bullpen couldn't hold a lead.

The majority of Blue Jays fans have been saying for a while that their team isn’t good enough to contend in the American League East. The much-maligned front office might be about to come to the same conclusion.

Through three months of the regular season, it has become painfully obvious the Jays don’t have the talent to compete. They possess one of the league’s weakest lineups, an injury-riddled bullpen and a starting rotation that can only be expected to do so much.

The Jays have the fourth-worst record and fifth-worst run differential in the AL. After Monday's loss to the Red Sox, they now trail the third wild card by 7 1⁄2 games with six teams ahead of them in the standings.

Help is eventually on the way. Bo Bichette is expected to return from the injured list later this week. Relievers Yimi Garcia and Jordan Romano should be back at some point in July. The issue is the Jays struggled when all three were healthy and that’s unlikely to change when they’re off the IL.