As the General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, Ross Atkins has made several key decisions that have shaped the direction of the team. Since taking over the role in December 2015, Atkins has been tasked with rebuilding a franchise that has struggled to find success in recent years.

One of Atkins’ first major decisions was to trade away star player Jose Bautista in August 2017. Bautista had been a fan favorite and a key contributor to the team for several years, but his performance had declined in the seasons leading up to the trade. Atkins made the tough decision to move on from Bautista in order to free up salary cap space and acquire younger talent.

Atkins also made a bold move in signing free agent pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu to a four-year, $80 million contract in December 2019. Ryu had been one of the top pitchers in the league during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atkins saw him as a key piece in the Blue Jays’ rotation. The signing was met with some skepticism due to Ryu’s injury history, but so far he has proven to be a valuable addition to the team.

Another key decision made by Atkins was to promote several young prospects from the team’s minor league system to the major league roster. Players like Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Cavan Biggio have all made significant impacts on the team since being called up, and have given fans hope for the future of the franchise.

However, not all of Atkins’ decisions have been successful. The team has struggled to find consistent success on the field, and has failed to make the playoffs since 2016. Some fans have criticized Atkins for not making enough moves to improve the team’s roster, while others have questioned his handling of certain player contracts.

Overall, Ross Atkins has made some tough decisions as General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, some of which have paid off and some of which have not. Only time will tell if his strategy will lead to long-term success for the franchise.