Jays play wait-and-see game in free agency

Still two months for Atkins to complete puzzle

A city that has bled feathered blue for the past two seasons is a little bit restless these days.

Toronto Blue Jays fans desperately want to trust the Ross Atkins/Mark Shapiroled front office — they do — but the still-relatively-new brass hasn’t exactly made that an easy thing to do over the first six weeks of the offseason, as fan favourites Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista remain on the market, while the signings of Kendrys Morales, Steve Pearce and Brett Oberholtzer fail to seem like any sort of tangible improvement.

As other teams around the American League have improved by leaps and bounds — we’re looking at Boston and Houston — the Jays are treading water at the very best, and the current roster construction isn’t exactly screaming 90-win ball club, let alone AL East contender.

Atkins has eight weeks to finish the 2017 jigsaw puzzle, though, and there are a few ways he can still turn this into a productive winter.

ENCARNACION’S MARKET TURNS

Atkins has already said he’s not sure he sees a fit for Encarnacion, one who’s trying to convince everyone he can play first base full-time throughout his mid-30s, but it looks like the market for soon-to-be 34-year-old slugger isn’t what it was expected.

At this point the Jays seem to be spectators, but there’s no reason Atkins couldn’t swoop in if the reports of Encarnacion’s offers being in the range of three years at US$20 million per season are accurate.

With Morales already inked, it would force Encarnacion to prove he could spent a full season in the field without it affecting his production at the plate, but it’s a gamble they might be willing to take at a certain price.

BAUTISTA RETURNS ON TEAM-FRIENDLY DEAL

It was a rough season on the field for the 36-year-old, but the off-season hasn’t been any less sobering.

The Baltimore Orioles have already publicly stated they have no interest in Bautista because their fans don’t like him, while the market has been cool for the former 40-home-run threat who’s coming off an injury-riddled 22-home-run campaign.

Considering the Jays are currently set up to start the season with Melvin Upton Jr., Pearce and maybe Dalton Pompey playing significant roles in the corner outfield spots, a Bautista reunion might be the most-likely quick-fix scenario.

ATKINS GETS CREATIVE

The free-agent market this off-season is uninspiring at best, so maybe it’s not such a bad thing that the Jays have been sitting on their wallets and allowing things to unfold. After all, committing significant dollars to aging corner bats and closers isn’t exactly a recipe for success these days.

Maybe the Joey Votto trade talks reignite.

Chicago White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier and his 40 home runs are on the market. He can play first base, too. Andrew McCutchen, perhaps? Dare to dream.

Even though every single one of those trades would deplete a so-so farm system further, maybe Atkins can make hay via the trade route.

INVEST MONEY IN BULLPEN

Bullpens are in vogue right now, and there’s no doubt Atkins has work to do on his.

They’ve lost lefty Brett Cecil from an already-thin corps, so something has to give here shortly.

The Jays have been connected to many low-cost southpaw options, as well as a more intriguing name in right-hander Neftali Feliz and the rehabbing Greg Holland, both closers at prior American League stops.