Go Jays Go (without the “alas…”)

When MLB rejected the concept of a “shared custody” team last January, Stephen Bronfman halted MLB’s plan to return to Montreal at the speed of Tim Raines stealing second base. The dream held for so long has been shattered.

I then wrote a column called “Go Jays Go (alas)…”. It was my way of recognizing this point of no return: Quebec will never find a major team and, under the circumstances, may as well support the Toronto Blue Jays.

Why the Blue Jays? After all, you can cheer on the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs or New York Yankees. But let’s face it, none of these organizations lifted a finger to help the Expos return. This is not the case with the Blue Jays.

By playing two preseason games in Montreal in 2014, the Blue Jays allowed tens of thousands of Quebecers to demonstrate their attachment to the sport. Major League Baseball took notice, Bronfman got involved, Mayor Denis Coderre too, and the door opened ajar… until it slammed shut eight years later.

That’s not all: the Blue Jays have long trusted a Montreal GM, Alex Anthopoulos, and receiver Russell Martin. Today, they are fielding Vladimir Guerrero junior, son of a Z’Amours legend. And Otto Lopez, born in the Dominican Republic and who spent part of his youth in Montreal.

All that to say that no major organization approaches that of the Blue Jays in terms of ties with Quebec.

Because we can follow all their games on TV – which allows us to get to know their players well – and also because they form an exciting team, the Blue Jays attract many fans from Quebec to the Rogers Centre. I was surprised to hear French spoken so often during my visit last June.

Today, the Blue Jays begin their playoff run by hosting the Seattle Mariners in a best-of-three series. It will be played entirely in Toronto, with all first-round matches being played at the home of the top-ranked team.

It looks exciting. The Blue Jays field some great players, including shortstop Bo Bichette who shone in September. And while Guerrero Junior hasn’t been as dominant as last season, he remains a top threat.

Bichette (24) and Guerrero junior (23) will not benefit from their autonomy before the end of the 2025 season. But a strong trend is emerging in the industry: the best young players sign very long-term contracts well before to reach this milestone. The teams thus ensure that they retain their services and these players, who choose financial security, receive significant salaries earlier in their careers.

This is particularly the case of Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays, Ronald Acuna junior of the Atlanta Braves and Fernando Tatis junior of the San Diego Padres.

If the Blue Jays don’t offer similar deals to their two young stars, they will send them the wrong signal, which will create tension in the organization. Guerrero junior has already opened the door to negotiations and Bichette rightly believes she deserves more money.

That said, the Blue Jays will surely hesitate before committing to a few hundred million dollars in long-term contracts. For now, under the rules of the collective agreement, they remain the masters of the game, even if Bichette and Guerrero junior will be entitled to salary arbitration over the next three seasons.

The contract situation of Bichette and Guerrero junior will generate many comments over the next few months. But for now, time for action on the ground!

The strike force of the Blue Jays is impressive. George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez are also capable of producing sparks.

Young Alek Manoah is their best starting pitcher. He’s taller and bigger than former Expos star Pedro Martinez, but his attitude is similar. He’s not afraid to throw his fire balls inside and his rivals don’t like him very much. The energy is not lacking when he is on the mound, which will be the case in the first game on Friday.

Then it gets a little complicated. Kevin Gausman is reliable, but José Berrios had a disappointing season. In short relief, the Canadian Jordan Romano does the job.

Solid defensively, the Blue Jays shouldn’t give their rivals easy points. But the pressure of the series sometimes complicates things.

The Mariners rely on excellent pitchers, but will also have to show their ability to impose themselves in crucial games. It is, after all, their first appearance in the playoffs since the 2001 season. Watch for young Quebecer Abraham Toro, who has hit ten homers this season.

I don’t know if my interest in the Blue Jays will last over the years. For now, because I love baseball and they are the major team I know best, I say, like last January, “Go Jays Go”, but this time without the “alas” . The prospect of the Expos returning, in one form or another, is well and truly over. The time is over for disappointment and we must move on to another dream.

An NBA team, perhaps?