Shapiro sees ‘no grounds’ to fire Blue Jays GM after disappointing year

Despite the information that the Toronto Blue Jays finished past successful the American League East, squad president Mark Shapiro said Wednesday that wide manager Ross Atkins volition stay successful his role.

Speaking astatine a league to enactment a bow connected a play wherever the Blue Jays finished 74-88, Shapiro said that helium and Atkins were not arrogant of the season.

“Ross needs to beryllium better. I request to beryllium better. Our full baseball operations request to beryllium better,” helium told reporters earlier trumpeting the information that the existent authorities has led the Blue Jays to the postseason during 3 of the past 5 seasons.

“We near outpouring grooming objectively with a accidental to to beryllium a contending squad and playoff team. And to me, that’s not grounds to marque a change. … If I felt determination was a amended alternate to tally our shot operation, I’d marque that change.”

While it is existent that Toronto did marque playoff appearances, successful each lawsuit they were successful the chaotic paper circular and failed to cod a triumph successful immoderate of the series.

Trending Now

Blue Jays players enactment a bow of their ain connected a disappointing play by being swept by being outscored by the Miami Marlins  26-7 during a three-game sweep.

Atkins was brought successful by Shapiro successful 2016 aft erstwhile GM Alex Anthopoulos resigned from the club, citing the information helium believed Shapiro would not springiness him the autonomy helium desired to tally the club.

In his last play arsenic GM, Anthopoulos’ Jays finished with a 93-69 grounds and reached the AL Championship series.

A twelvemonth aboriginal with Atkins successful charge, the Jays returned to the AL Championship bid aft finishing with an 89-73 record.

More to come.