Ross Atkins, general manager, Toronto Blue Jays
+14.7 WAA
Atkins’ Blue Jays came up one game short of qualifying for a shot at an MLB postseason spot. But that shortfall should not obscure the job Atkins did this past year in boosting his Jays into contention.
The Jays’ front office boss made 52 player personnel moves that affected the Major League roster since the conclusion of the 2020 season. An impressive 28 of those moves – that’s 58 percent – improved the team.
And several of Atkins’ moves hit big. He signed free agent shortstop Marcus Semien to a bargain-basement one-year, $18 million deal and was rewarded when Semien delivered 45 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a 4.9 WAA.
The more heralded signing of free agent outfielder George Springer did not generate the same value, largely because injuries limited Springer to a half season. But he did hit 22 home runs, drive in 50 runs and generate 1.4 WAA in that time.
Atkins promoted pitcher Alek Manoah from the farm system and Manoah went 9-2 with a3.22 ERA in 20 starts. That was worth another 1.8 WAA.
Atkins not only knew who to sign or promote, he also displayed a keen eye for whom to dump. He traded away, sold, or released 13 players who produced value for another major league team in 2021. In none of those 13 cases did the player’s value to his new team turn out to be positive.
The sum total of Atkins’ contributions to the Jays’ season amounted to +14.7 WAA. That’s far and away the largest contribution by a GM to team success this season.