The Blue Jays won't bring back mental performance coach John Lannan for 2027. Ross Atkins confirmed the move Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Mitch Bannon.

Atkins added that Lannan's departure is the only recent change to the coaching staff.

He's been in the organization since 2020. He started as the mental performance coach for Triple-A Buffalo and Single-A Dunedin.

The former big-league pitcher was promoted to the major league staff ahead of the 2024 season.

His time on the big-league staff covered both extremes. Toronto reached Game 7 of the World Series in 2025, then finished last in the AL East at 79-83 this year.

Why make this change now? Atkins said after the season that everything needed to be assessed.

John Lannan's exit is the lone change on John Schneider's staff

The rest of the staff stays intact. John Schneider remains in place after signing an extension in March that runs through 2028.

Atkins has long called mental performance a key part of player development across the organization. That makes the hire to replace Lannan an important one.

The front office has seen other departures this offseason. David Bell stepped down as assistant GM, and Frank Herrmann left for the Yankees.

Changing the mental performance coach alone won't fix a lineup that finished last in homers. If this is the only staff move, it feels more like housekeeping than a real response to a lost season.

It's like repainting one room after a flood. It looks different, but the foundation still needs work.

The real fixes have to come on the roster. Toronto needs power bats and rotation help, and the GM meetings this week are the first real chance to start.

Lannan's work did matter, especially for young players coming through Buffalo and Dunedin. His replacement inherits that responsibility.

The Jays have kept nearly everyone else around. Now the pressure shifts to whether Atkins can turn a stable staff into a better team on the field.