[browna]

None of it is surprising anymore.
It's clear the Jays need a closer in the front office, someone a lot more of a dynamic personality.
I'm sure they were right up there, again. Money was probably there as was term and the player was wooed with the facilities etc etc and a very polished presentation that players are impressed with.

But Atkins and Shapiro are eggheads with the personality of a can of paint. Schenider is no help, he's a lacky and not widely popular either among MLB players. Put it this way, no one is coming to Toronto because they want to play under Schneider.

Besides the money, facilities and intangibles, most players need to feel some actual fire and conviction in the team from the guys selling it, as well as a level of trust, and not just have them be sitting back and letting a slick corporate presentation speak for itself. AA would be great here for that type of fiery personality that can sell players on the Jays.

Furthermore, as discussed here ad nauseum, any talk or sell job from those two about how much the Jays want the player they are talking to, to build around, falls especially flat when they aren't taking care of (one way or another) their own stars or near stars this or last offseason and leaving all that in limbo.