George Springer's time in Toronto could be nearing its end after a below-average season.

The four-time All-Star is hitting .249 with 15 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases across 121 games this year, numbers well below what Toronto has come to expect from him.

At 37 next week, and heading into free agency this offseason, the writing appears to be on the wall for a franchise that's likely to look younger at this stage.

That's a significant shift from where things stood just last year. Springer hit .309 with 32 home runs in 140 games during Toronto's run to the World Series, arguably one of his best seasons in a Blue Jays uniform.

This year has been a different story almost from the start, part of a broader offensive struggle that's plagued Toronto's lineup all season.

Why the front office is likely to pursue a younger option

Springer spent his first seven seasons with the Astros before joining Toronto, helping Houston win the 2017 World Series along the way.

His six seasons in Toronto included real highs, but this year's decline lines up with the natural aging curve teams have to account for when deciding whether to re-sign a player entering his late 30s.

A younger replacement would give Toronto more roster flexibility and likely a longer runway of production, rather than committing further resources to a player on the back end of his career.

That doesn't diminish what Springer has meant to this organization, including his role in last year's historic postseason run.

But rosters move on, and a front office weighing its options this winter is likely to see more long-term value in a fresh face than in bringing back a declining veteran at a premium price.

Whether Springer signs elsewhere or this stretch simply marks the quiet end of his playing career remains to be seen.

For Blue Jays fans, this offseason could mark a real transition point, closing one chapter of the roster as Toronto looks to build its next core around younger talent.