You have heard current management’s words from them over and over: “We need waves and waves of talent coming up through our system” they repeat. And, they are right. Ross Atkins managed a few good moves to keep the Blue Jays in playoff contention in 2016 (Rule 5 pick up Joe Biagini and the Francisco Liriano acquisition), eventually losing to their former team, the Cleveland Indians. Poor health and wrath of injuries ruined any chances in 2017. Then, the rebuild began in earnest.
What is interesting today is management is following, to me at least, a vision similar to those early Pat Gillick built Jays teams I examined in detail (see link to Part 4 below).