Atkins: Blue Jays 'excited about our opportunity to get better'

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins has clear plans for the team after a disappointing season.

"We want to improve our pitching, improve our offense, and build upon a team that we feel is a good one. It's in a good starting position," Atkins said Wednesday at MLB's GM meetings, per MLB Network.

Atkins' Blue Jays stumbled to last place in the AL East with a 74-88 record in 2024 after making the playoffs the previous two campaigns.

The bullpen, which many considered a strength heading into the season, ended up being the club's Achilles heel - Toronto's relievers ranked last in the AL in ERA (4.82), FIP (4.82), and fWAR (-2.5).

"We need to improve our bullpen - that is the clear area of opportunity for us - but (we are) really excited about the energy here and our opportunity to get better," Atkins said.

The story for Atkins and Co. last offseason was the Jays' failed pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, who was falsely reported as being on a plane to Toronto before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Atkins praised the organization when asked if that situation reflects the Jays' ability and willingness to pursue big free agents such as Juan Soto.

"Every situation is different, (I'm) not going to comment on Juan Soto," he said. "I think what we learned from Shohei and that pursuit is that Toronto is very attractive."

The Blue Jays' payroll allocations for 2025 are currently expected to be $189 million after arbitration, per Spotrac.

Toronto spent $218 million on its roster last season, good for ninth-most in MLB.