How Blue Jays execs are preparing for unusual off-season
Toronto Blue Jays executives Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro are preparing for an uncertain off-season amid potential labor disputes. While the team plans for a standard winter of free-agent and trade activity, they are bracing for multiple outcomes including a possible lockout.
Why it matters
The potential for a Major League Baseball lockout impacts team strategy, player contracts, and the overall business of professional sports.
TORONTO — There were occasional moments of transparency from Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro when the Blue Jays’ top executives discussed the state of the team Wednesday.
Speaking from the media conference room at Rogers Centre, Shapiro acknowledged the frustration of a last-place AL East finish while also sharing how happy he is to still see so many Blue Jays fans when he’s out walking his dog.
Atkins spoke about his disappointment in himself and the stress he feels when he thinks about where the season went wrong. “I know no one cares,” he said. Then he added: “I don’t mean that in an insensitive way. I wouldn’t care either, right?”
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