The Blue Jays actually nailed last winter's offseason moves, and it still wasn't enough.

Teams flopping after big free agent misses is baseball's oldest story, and the Mets and Bo Bichette are just the latest example this year.

Toronto avoided that trap almost entirely. Dylan Cease is likely to finish runner-up for the AL Cy Young. Kazuma Okamoto led the team in home runs and RBIs as a rookie. Tyler Rogers is running a sub-2.00 ERA.

That success cuts both ways. It's genuine reason for hope, and a real warning sign at the same time.

GM Ross Atkins should feel encouraged by his evaluation process. Aside from Anthony Santander, he's largely gotten these decisions right.

What's worrisome is that a genuinely great offseason still ended without a playoff berth. There's plenty of work left to do.

Where Atkins needs to focus his attention this winter

Toronto's most pressing need remains its anemic offense. The lineup needs to be deeper and more powerful to compete in 2027.

With Addison Barger's return likely filling an outfield spot, the DH slot becomes the clearest opening for real thump. George Springer probably isn't back next year, and Santander can't be relied on for much of anything.

Seiya Suzuki, an impending free agent from the Cubs, fits that need well. He's exactly the kind of powerful right-handed bat Toronto lacks, with enough outfield flexibility to play a corner spot if the team is willing to live with his defense.

The rotation needs reinforcement too. Only Cease, Jose Soriano, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce, an unknown coming off a season-ending injury, are currently penciled in.

Toronto entered 2026 with what looked like enviable pitching depth and still ran out of healthy arms. A Shane Bieber reunion could happen, but a healthier long-term bet makes more sense.

The Tarik Skubal sweepstakes are worth entering, though names like Trevor Rogers, Freddy Peralta, or Shota Imanaga feel far more realistic at a fraction of the cost.

The bullpen needs attention as well. Toronto's relievers were excellent in 2026, Rogers especially, but Mason Fluharty can't reasonably be expected to lead MLB in appearances again. Another lefty capable of handling high-leverage innings would help significantly.

The uncomfortable truth here is that Atkins could nail every signing again this winter and Toronto could still be a bad team in 2027. Or the right new faces could be exactly what turns this around.

Either way, the pressure on this front office to execute has never been higher.