Will the Blue Jays Blow it Up This Year?

The Jays Haven't Been Good, But Things Could Get Worse

The Toronto Blue Jays are one of baseball's most venerable franchises, with a large and passionate fanbase.

But on-field success has been hard to come by lately. The team has not won a World Series since 1993, and has only made the playoffs twice since then.

This year, the Blue Jays are on pace to finish last in the AL East for the second straight season. They currently have the fourth-worst record in the American League, and are 22 games out of first place.

Why Have the Blue Jays Struggled?

There are a number of reasons why the Blue Jays have struggled in recent years.

Pitching

• The Blue Jays have not had a consistently good pitching staff in years.
• Their starters have been especially bad, with a collective ERA of 5.59 this season.
• The bullpen has not been much better, with a 4.62 ERA.

Offense

• The offense has not been much better, with a team batting average of .245 and an on-base percentage of .323.
• The Blue Jays have also struck out a lot, with 1,004 strikeouts this season.
• They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs, with just 117 this season.

What's Next for the Blue Jays?

The Blue Jays are at a crossroads. They could choose to sell off their stars and rebuild, or they could try to make one more run at a World Series.

If they decide to rebuild, they could get a lot of value for their stars. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Hyun Jin Ryu are all under contract for at least two more seasons, and they would all bring back a lot of prospects in a trade.

But if the Blue Jays decide to try to make one more run, they will need to make some significant changes. They need to find a way to improve their pitching staff, and they need to get more production from their offense.

The Blue Jays are in a tough position, but they have a lot of talent. If they can make the right moves, they could be a contender again soon.