Part 2/6:
The Blue Jays made a significant trade to obtain additional bonus pool space in hopes of signing Sasaki. Yet, reports indicate that many front offices believe there was a pre-existing agreement between Sasaki and the Dodgers, which complicates the situation further. According to executive Jim Bowden, many teams are asking Major League Baseball (MLB) to investigate the Sasaki signing due to these allegations of tampering.
This situation raises critical questions about the wisdom of the Blue Jays' trade strategy under Atkins. Executives have expressed skepticism regarding the value of the newly acquired bonus pool and whether the Jays can effectively utilize it to land top-tier talent in a market where many believe no elite players remain available.