The 2024 Toronto Blue Jays season didn’t just fall short of expectations—it belly-flopped. Finishing with a record of 74-88 and tumbling to fifth in the AL East, it was not the year fans had in mind. As expectations are seemingly on the rise for Jays fans after the acquisitions of Max Scherzer, Anthony Santander, and company, let’s reflect on what went wrong for John Schneider‘s Blue Jays.
1. Missing out on Shohei Ohtani
The Blue Jays went all-in on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, a bold but fruitless endeavor, much to the fans’ dismay. While pursuing the biggest free agent prize in baseball is admirable, the Jays forgot they still had a roster to build. When Ohtani opted for sunnier pastures (and a sunnier team), Toronto was left with nothing but dashed hopes and a thin free agent market. Ultimately, the 2024 offseason ended with the somewhat underwhelming signings of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Justin Turner, and Kevin Keirmeier.
Chris Bassitt noted that the team’s singular focus on Ohtani may have disrupted offseason planning. After the Jays’ underwhelming output in 2024, Bassitt may have been correct.
“The one thing I’ll say about the Blue Jays for this year is I think we put $700 million into Shohei Ohtani’s basket and didn’t get him. That was the reality. I think the pivot was we really didn’t have a pivot to an elite-elite-elite player.”
Without reinforcements, the lineup and rotation felt underpowered. The dream of a two-way superstar was nice, but maybe a few more dependable arms and bats would have been more suitable.
2. An Offense That Couldn’t Keep Up
The Blue Jays bats were much quieter than expected in 2024, scoring 671 total runs, the 23rd most in the league. For comparison, the league-leading Arizona Diamondbacks racked up 886 runs. While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had an exceptional year(.323 AVG, 30 HR, 199 hits), the lineup around him didn’t provide enough consistent support, as no other qualified starter (min. 100 AB) had an OPS over .800.
Bo Bichette’s midseason injuries took a toll on his production, George Springer had an up-and-down year, and Daulton Varsho’s offensive contributions were underwhelming. A team built to mash simply couldn’t string together the hits needed to win and get them into the playoff conversation.
3. A Bullpen That Struggled Throughout
The Blue Jays bullpen had some nice moments during the season but was far too inconsistent when the stakes were high. The Jays bullpen arms had a collective 4.82 ERA, 29th in the league, better than only the Colorado Rockies (5.41 ERA), who finished with the most losses in the NL at 101. The Jays star closer Jordan Romano threw only 13.2 innings in 2024 and was never himself, a large reason why the Jays ranked 29th in ERA during the 8th inning or later. This lack of reliability in high-leverage situations often led to heartbreaking losses and tense situations with a somewhat hopeless feel. If the Blue Jays hope to contend in 2025, making additions to the bullpen must be a top priority.
4. The AL East Gauntlet
It does not help that the Jays play in baseball’s toughest division. The AL East featured multiple 90-win ballclubs as the Yankees battled with the Orioles for the top spot all year. The Rays had a bit of a down year but were still their usual savvy selves, and even the Red Sox showed signs of life. The AL East was a juggernaut, and Toronto got caught lacking.
What’s Next for the Blue Jays?
While 2024 wasn’t the season fans had hoped for, the Blue Jays still have the core pieces to rebound. Guerrero, Bichette, and Gausman are all elite talents, and fans can stay optimistic with the emergence of young stars like Will Wagner, Orelvis Martinez, Bowden Francis, and more. With the addition of Santander’s power bat and Scherzer, the future hall of famer, anticipation for an exciting season fills the air in Toronto. Contention within the AL East is an uphill struggle every year, but a strong rebound season is certainly not out of the picture for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.