Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins expects the bulk of the roster to return for the 2024 season but couldn’t make a guarantee on the team’s pending free agents.
Atkins mentioned in his end-of-season press conference that the team would be looking to build from within but would also look at external opportunities, albeit in what’s considered a weak free-agent class.
When it comes to notable players like Hyun Jin Ryu, Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Belt and Matt Chapman, who are heading into free agency, Atkins initially made it seem like they would not be a part of the team’s primary plans.
“It’s a good year to have a great foundation, essentially the bulk of our team returning you know, we will miss Matt Chapman and Brandon Belt and Kevin Kiermaier. We’ll see opportunities to work to fill those holes from within and externally,” Atkins told reporters. “The bulk of our pitching returning minus Hyun Jin Ryu, maybe a couple of others, but with Alek Manoah coming back into the fold and, Hyun Jin Ryu could be an alternative for us.”
The Blue Jays GM did clarify to reporters that he does have interest in bringing back Belt, Kiermaier, and Chapman if the opportunity presents itself.
Chapman already indicated after the team’s playoff exit that he was open to returning with the Blue Jays but hadn’t given free agency much thought.
“I’m gonna let Ohtani set the market and then I’ll let the cards fall after that regarding myself, but I don’t know. We’ll see,” Kiermaier said about his status. “I’m going to go home, enjoy myself, relax, let my body rejuvenate and then once all that stuff kicks off again, I’ll sit here and listen to whoever has an interest in me and go from there.”
Belt has already made it known that he wasn’t certain he would return next season as he did contemplate retirement with the way injuries have impacted him.
“I think I might have a few more options next year, but I am getting on up there in age, so it might turn a lot of people off, but I’m still trying to figure out kinda what I want to do,” Belt said at the time. “I’m 35 this year. I got two boys that are getting older, and it’s getting tougher on all of us when I’m gone all the time.
“This something I gotta take into consideration and figure out whether I want to keep going or go home and be with my family.”