After missing the playoffs for the second time in five years, the Toronto Blue Jays will hold their annual end-of-season press conferences for president and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins on Wednesday, multiple reporters revealed, including <a href="https://x.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1840769192619831475" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MLB.com&#8217;s Keegan Matheson</a>. 
Needless to say, there will be plenty on the agenda when both speak to the media.
Following an underperforming season, where the Blue Jays finished 74-88, placing last in the AL East while missing the post-season by 12 games, one of the first questions that&#8217;ll likely be asked is the status of manager John Schneider. As of now, the 44-year-old skipper &#8212; whose contract expires after next season &#8212; appears <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-signs-point-to-john-schneider-returning-as-blue-jays-manager-in-2025?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">destined to return in 2025</a>.
Much of the focus will also likely be on the job securities of Shapiro and Atkins, with the former set to enter the final year of his deal next season and the latter signed through 2026. But it doesn&#8217;t appear there&#8217;ll be much change, if any, on the front, either.
Toronto&#8217;s roster, on the other hand, will likely be the opposite.
Prior to Sunday&#8217;s season finale against the Miami Marlins, Schneider outlined the club&#8217;s most pressing areas of need heading into 2025, highlighting the bullpen and the search for an established middle-of-the-order bat or two. He also mentioned the catcher position, expressing his desire to procure a backup catcher capable of sharing the position with Alejandro Kirk.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Asked about Blue Jays&#8217; off-season priorities, John Schneider reiterated that the bullpen needs to get better &amp; a middle-of-the-order power bat would be ideal for the lineup. Plus Schneider would want a second catcher who can share the workload with Alejandro Kirk.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/1840458707605319828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
Receiving clarity regarding Toronto&#8217;s spending limits will also be essential after becoming a first-time luxury tax team in 2023 and nearly repeating that fate this year before slipping under the $237 million threshold at the trade deadline.
According to <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FanGraphs&#8217; Roster Resource tool</a>, the franchise enters the off-season with a projected &#8217;25 CBT payroll (competitive balance tax) of roughly $138.1 million, significantly under next season&#8217;s $241 million threshold. It&#8217;s important to note that figure doesn&#8217;t account for arbitration-eligible players, namely Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who&#8217;s entering his final year of eligibility before becoming a free agent after next season.
Guerrero&#8217;s future in Toronto, as well as Bo Bichette&#8217;s, are also expected to be hot-button topics when Shapiro and Atkins meet with the media.
With the Blue Jays&#8217; franchise cornerstones down to their final seasons of club control, those questions will undoubtedly continue to be asked until one or both are signed to long-term extensions.

After missing the playoffs for the second time in five years, the Toronto Blue Jays will hold their annual end-of-season press conferences for president and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins on Wednesday, multiple reporters revealed, including <a href="https://x.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1840769192619831475" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MLB.com's Keegan Matheson</a>. 

Needless to say, there will be plenty on the agenda when both speak to the media.

Following an underperforming season, where the Blue Jays finished 74-88, placing last in the AL East while missing the post-season by 12 games, one of the first questions that'll likely be asked is the status of manager John Schneider. As of now, the 44-year-old skipper -- whose contract expires after next season -- appears <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-signs-point-to-john-schneider-returning-as-blue-jays-manager-in-2025?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">destined to return in 2025</a>.

Much of the focus will also likely be on the job securities of Shapiro and Atkins, with the former set to enter the final year of his deal next season and the latter signed through 2026. But it doesn't appear there'll be much change, if any, on the front, either.

Toronto's roster, on the other hand, will likely be the opposite.

Prior to Sunday's season finale against the Miami Marlins, Schneider outlined the club's most pressing areas of need heading into 2025, highlighting the bullpen and the search for an established middle-of-the-order bat or two. He also mentioned the catcher position, expressing his desire to procure a backup catcher capable of sharing the position with Alejandro Kirk.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Asked about Blue Jays' off-season priorities, John Schneider reiterated that the bullpen needs to get better &amp; a middle-of-the-order power bat would be ideal for the lineup. Plus Schneider would want a second catcher who can share the workload with Alejandro Kirk.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/1840458707605319828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
Receiving clarity regarding Toronto's spending limits will also be essential after becoming a first-time luxury tax team in 2023 and nearly repeating that fate this year before slipping under the $237 million threshold at the trade deadline.

According to <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FanGraphs' Roster Resource tool</a>, the franchise enters the off-season with a projected '25 CBT payroll (competitive balance tax) of roughly $138.1 million, significantly under next season's $241 million threshold. It's important to note that figure doesn't account for arbitration-eligible players, namely Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who's entering his final year of eligibility before becoming a free agent after next season.

Guerrero's future in Toronto, as well as Bo Bichette's, are also expected to be hot-button topics when Shapiro and Atkins meet with the media.

With the Blue Jays' franchise cornerstones down to their final seasons of club control, those questions will undoubtedly continue to be asked until one or both are signed to long-term extensions.

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