Every time the Blue Jays take the field against the Atlanta Braves, as they did in Saturday’s 1-1 spring training tie, it serves as a painful reminder of the one who got away: Alex Anthopoulos. The former Blue Jays general manager, who now serves as the Braves’ president of baseball operations, has built Atlanta into a perennial powerhouse, winning a World Series in 2021 and consistently fielding one of the most talented rosters in baseball. His departure from Toronto after the 2015 season feels even more agonizing now, over nine years later, as the Blue Jays face the looming possibility of losing Vladimir Guerrero Jr., their franchise cornerstone, in what could be his final season with the team.
Guerrero, who has been the face of the Blue Jays since his electrifying debut, is entering the final year of his contract. With no extension in place and the team’s competitive window uncertain, the likelihood of him departing in free agency next offseason grows stronger by the day. This adds another layer of frustration for fans, who have watched Anthopoulos thrive in Atlanta while the Blue Jays have struggled to replicate the success of their 2015 and 2016 playoff runs.
The Braves, under Anthopoulos’ leadership, have become a model of sustained excellence, blending homegrown talent with savvy trades and free-agent signings. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are at a crossroads, with Guerrero’s future in question and the pressure mounting on the front office to either extend him or make the most of what could be his final year in Toronto. The parallels between Anthopoulos’ success in Atlanta and the Blue Jays’ current challenges only amplify the sense of missed opportunity, leaving fans to wonder what might have been if he had stayed.
Leave a Reply