Atkins on the Blue Jays' trade deadline, the team's buy-sell mode and Guerrero Jr.'s season
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
He's the GM of the Blue Jays, Ross Atkins. Go ahead, Ross. Have you seen the Sopranos? I was actually busy watching curling, mostly. That's reasonable, too.
Reasonable, too. I got bored of the Sopranos. Yeah? All sports, all day.
Okay. Well, we don't want to spoil anything for you, then. No, I love the Sopranos, but I couldn't keep up with that recall. That was impressive. I know. That was pretty good. I don't know if we're wasting people's time or not. Thank you. I appreciate that. He's a thoroughbred. He knows what he's doing over there. Well, thanks for coming on. We appreciate it. Obviously, you've been busy, and we have been kind of debating ourselves. Did you buy? Did you sell? Like, how would you define your trade deadline?
Yeah, I mean, any time that you're taking away from a team that we were all in, that would put us in the sell category, we were just fortunate to be able to acquire players that impact us now and beyond. So... Adding Arrigetti and Soriano and others that are near Bateman and Klein that can impact us this year, we were fortunate. That was certainly our goal and not always able to do that, but feel good about that return given the circumstance.
So you say you're all in. You're in Game 7 of the World Series last year.
How did Ross Atkins describe the Blue Jays’ overall trade-deadline approach — buy, sell, or hold?
How difficult was it for you to come to that conclusion that that's the right play that you've got to sell?
Yeah, it's absolutely brutal. You know, it's been very, very difficult. It's been as challenging of a year as I've had. Just the emotional swing of that is... so far from our expectations, and I'm very disappointed in myself and where we are. So it's hard. I'm sure all of you, obviously, you have been very competitive throughout your careers, and no matter where you are in your career, no matter what you just accomplished, not meeting expectations, and especially when they're as high as they were for us, is about as gut-wrenching as it gets.
How hard was it to come to the conclusion on Kevin Gosman, a guy who's been a really good soldier for you guys, beloved in the market? How tough is that one specifically?
Yeah, I mean, they're always difficult. That one especially, it is all the things I just said. You know, we waited as long as we could possibly wait and would like to have. You know, I think there were scenarios where we were just adding. Then there were scenarios that were looking more like a hold. And, you know, not parting ways with Kevin Gossman, even if you are acquiring someone like Jose Soriano. But in the end, with where we were, we felt like it was the best thing, as painful and as difficult as it was, is the most responsible thing to do. And worked through that with Kevin. I talked to him before the fact and tried to explain. Well, no, I did explain, and hopefully I feel he did walk away completely understanding the position.
And the interesting or great thing about our clubhouse is that it's been accountability throughout. And many players saying that one of the reasons that we are in this tough spot is because of all of us, not just one person's decisions, not just one person's performance, but the group.
Well, Gosman, prior to leaving town, was, I guess, vocal on the clubhouse dynamics or the kind of camaraderie within the clubhouse, and he said it just is not as close-knit of a team this year as it was last year, and he referenced some players who aren't here anymore. How do you respond to that?
Yeah, we've talked to Kevin about that, and he spoke to the staff about it. I think it was just... You know, obviously, it's not something you didn't feel. I'm not taking anything away from that. Losing is not fun. And it is really hard to enjoy losing. So I think that's really what my takeaway was. And I agree with it.
Whenever we get through a trade deadline and you guys are active and you've got a number of players who have contracts expiring, you discuss which guys are possibly going to go. And you decided to trade Gosman, Varshow, Hoffman in particular, who have been mainstays on your roster. But you look at a guy like Shane Bieber, George Springer, two guys who also will expire after this season, they're still on the team.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:20
2
How did Ross Atkins describe the Blue Jays’ overall trade-deadline approach — buy, sell, or hold?
1:20–10:57
3
Why did the Blue Jays decide to trade veterans like Kevin Gausman and what made that decision so difficult?
10:57–18:06
4
How did Ross Atkins respond to Kevin Gausman’s comments about clubhouse chemistry this season?
18:06–19:16
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from OverDrive
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