To call the Blue Jays off-season sluggish would be to insult slugs.
Slothlike would be a better descriptor — as in hanging around upside-down all the livelong day, scarcely a twitch.
An inquiring-minded correspondent would gladly discuss with Ross Atkins the stasis that has seized this club over the winter and through spring training. But there’s been barely a public glimpse of the general manager ‘round these parts — his only media confab with reporters was on the eve of camp, an MLB-mandated performance for all GMs — and whenever a nonSportsnet journo has blipped on Atkins’ radar, he has scuttled away like a scared rabbit.
You can understand his aversion to cross-examination. There is so much to pick apart in Atkins’ deeply disappointing (non) moves to improve a roster in desperate need of an offensive jolt, at least on the evidence of 2023.
Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins pursued the biggest free agent of the off-season, Shohei Ohtani, but did little after that didn't pan out, Rosie DiManno writes. It’s unwise to write the Jays off in March, but if things go south this year, it will be unforgivable for Atkins.
The trolling net has dredged up: presumptive third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (a career WAR of 3.8 compared to 27.4 for Matt Chapman, who was allowed to walk for nothing); useful free-agent signing Justin Turner; not-getting-any younger outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, back on a one-year pact; and veteran Daniel Vogelbach, here on a minor-league contract in the hope he still has some DH swat in his bat.
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Disgraceful behaviour on Parliament Hill
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