Behind the scenes of every high-profile or young prospect, there’s a series of efforts and connections—this was certainly the case for the Toronto Blue Jays, who were in the race to secure the most talked-about top prospect, Roki Sasaki. The pursuit, which according to the fans was just another chase, turned out to be more than a simple recruitment. It all began with a simple, but powerful, belief: the Blue Jays weren’t just after a great player; they were after a game-changer. What may have started as a typical recruitment mission soon became much larger, with players and executives jumping into the potential of landing the generational talent.

Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho, and Chad Green, three of the team’s top stars, embarked on a mission to secure the prospect. The trio made the trip to Toronto to personally meet with Sasaki, demonstrating just how much the organization was willing to invest in this pursuit. The reason? With a rotation already cementing itself as one of the league’s best, adding Roki would boost their pitching to higher levels.

However, there was more to it, ‘the off-field factor’; Sasaki is the kind of generational star with a promising future who could open doors to new markets and elevate the team’s global stature. The stakes were high, and the Blue Jays saw this as a crucial step in their long-term success blueprint. Despite all their efforts, the Toronto Blue Jays came up short in the Roki Sasaki pursuit race. And over the years, the franchise has experienced several such near-misses.

Roki Sasaki isn’t a solo miss for the Toronto Blue Jays

It seems like there is a monotonous pattern for the Toronto Blue Jays; they push for a high-profile player, only to watch their dreams getting shattered. From Shohei Ohtani to Juan Soto, the Jays have faced the bitter taste of being rejected and ended up being disappointed. However, this cycle sometimes takes a toll on both fans and the franchise; they are now being used as leverage. Whether it’s a failed trade, missing a high-profile free agent signing, or a player bailing out. Jays have witnessed ample ‘what could have been moments’.

One of the more painful examples in recent history came when the Blue Jays made a massive push for Ohtani, only for the two-way superstar to take their offer and head to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then there was last off-season’s pursuit of Juan Soto, a player who seemed like a perfect fit for the Jays. But as always, Soto moved elsewhere. And then, just when the Blue Jays’ frustrations seemed to reach a boiling point, the team was reportedly in on closer Tanner Scott, only for the left-hander to sign a four-year, $72 million deal with the Dodgers.

Another opportunity slipped away. These situations are pointing at a deeper issue; it is clear that Jays aren’t always the first choice. The feeling of being rejected is haunting the fans, players, and the franchise; as frustrating as it is, these near-misses are not the end of the Blue Jays’ story. The team still aims at building a strong core of players who are committed to bringing glory to Toronto. Until then, the Blue Jays will need to find a solution to break this near-miss cycle.