Jays play wait-and-see game in free agency

Toronto Blue Jays fans desperately want to trust the Ross Atkins/ Mark Shapiro-led front office, but the still-relatively- new brass hasn’t exactly made that an easy thing to do over the first six weeks of the off-season.

Fan favourites Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista remain on the market, while the signings of Kendrys Mor-- ales, Steve Pearce and Brett Oberholtzer fail to seem like any sort of improvement.

Atkins has eight weeks to finish the puzzle, and there are 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.

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.

BAUTISTA RETURNS

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.

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

INVEST MONEY IN BULLPEN

Bullpens are i n vogue right now. The Jays have lost lefty Brett Cecil from an already- thin corps, so something has to give here shortly.

The Jays have been connected to many l ow- cost southpaw options, as well as right-hander Neftali Feliz and the rehabbing Greg Holland, both closers at prior American League stops.