3 takeaways from Shapiro and Atkins' end-of-year Blue Jays press conference

"As the Toronto Blue Jays continue to navigate through Game 7's heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins held their end-of-year press conferences on Thursday afternoon. Along with their disappointment of losing the World Series, both Shapiro and Atkins shared their optimism for 2026 and the upcoming offseason. Judging by the comments made by Shapiro and Atkins, it seems the offseason is off to a good start, highlighted by the return of Shane Bieber."

"Ross Atkins' first significant announcement was the return of manager John Schneider, with the Blue Jays exercising his 2026 option. It seemed like an obvious decision to bring back the man who took the last-place AL East Blue Jays to the World Series in a year. Gone are the days when fans and media alike anticipated Schneider's exit, and he looks to be in the clear after it felt like his job was on the line if the 2025 Blue Jays delivered similar results to 2024. With nearly the entire coaching staff invited back ( except for Don Mattingly), it made sense to let John Schneider continue his tenure with the Blue Jays."

"Shapiro praised Schneider in his portion of the press conference, stating, "He keeps getting better. He's certainly put himself among the top group of managers in the game." Those words are of merit, with Atkins announcing the Blue Jays and Schneider are working on an extension to keep the skipper beyond 2026."

Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins expressed disappointment over the World Series loss while conveying optimism for 2026 and the upcoming offseason. The Blue Jays have begun offseason work with key moves, highlighted by the return of Shane Bieber. The club exercised John Schneider's 2026 option and plans to negotiate an extension to keep him beyond 2026. Nearly the entire coaching staff returns, with Don Mattingly as the notable exception. Executives left several roster questions open, including how Bo Bichette's impending free agency will be handled. The front office signaled a constructive start to the offseason despite the Game 7 defeat.

Read at Jays Journal