Atkins: Further additions to Blue Jays would likely be via trade

If the Toronto Blue Jays make any more moves this offseason, general manager Ross Atkins expects them to come via trade rather than free agency.

"I think if there's a way to upgrade any aspect ... at this point it would require a trade for us to add to the team," Atkins told reporters Friday, according to Sportsnet. "Doesn't have to, but most likely would be the case."

The Blue Jays have had a busy offseason. They were in the running for Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki before they chose different teams and have been linked to free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman in recent weeks.

Toronto acquired Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin, and Myles Straw in trades while bringing in Anthony Santander, Jeff Hoffman, Yimi García, and Max Scherzer through free agency.

Scherzer helps fortify an already strong Blue Jays rotation of Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, and Bowden Francis. The three-time Cy Young winner said that group was part of what drew him to Toronto.

"When you look at any team, the backbone of any team is the starting rotation," Scherzer said, according to Sportsnet.

"On the Blue Jays, you've got a staff here that can eat some innings, with Gausman, Bassitt, Berríos, and Francis coming up. ... Being able to join that rotation and try and add to it, that's how you win ballgames."

The Blue Jays are hoping their additions will help them improve on a disappointing 2024 campaign where they missed the playoffs and finished last in the American League East with 74 wins.