Schneider remains focused on managerial duties, not potential deals

TORONTO -- John Schneider does not have the luxury of daydreaming about the Trade Deadline. That’s for all of us to do.

Sure, the Blue Jays’ manager is part of these big-picture talks with general manager Ross Atkins and the front office, but once he walks out of that office, someone else needs him. There’s a hitters’ meeting. There’s a meeting with his coaching staff. There’s one of his 500 media sessions each season. Every minute of the man’s day is scheduled, so there’s not much time to lean back and watch MLB Network like the rest of us.

“Nope. It’s hard to live in that world,” Schneider said. “Whatever is going to happen, it’s going to happen. You’ve got to not live in hypotheticals, you’ve got to live in today. Maybe 1%, because this gets covered more and more every year, but I’m worried about today and I’ll worry about tomorrow … tomorrow.”

Friday’s 3-1 win over the Cardinals buys the Blue Jays another tomorrow, or at least it kicks this conversation down the road for another 12 hours until reporters stroll into Schneider’s office again.

This has clearly become Schneider’s approach to the job, a belief that the guy at the top -- and the guy in front of the cameras each day -- needs to be steady. This is why, even while he knows that fans would love to see him flip a table and curse about something, he’s avoided the temptation. So far, at least.

A busy mind is the best defense these days. There aren’t many off-days in baseball. Players tend to wake up, head to the ballpark and get sucked into the day’s schedule. There’s a constant natural rhythm to it. Dylan Cease might glance at the latest news, but then he’ll have another meeting to attend or another bullpen session to throw.

“I wouldn’t say I ignore it, but so much of it is out of my control,” Cease said. “I’m really just focusing on my day-to-day things. I don’t really get worked up about it.”

This time of the season is hard enough on players, especially those with families and especially those who find their names in rumors, unsure of where they’ll be the morning after Monday's 6 p.m. ET Deadline. Schneider doesn’t want to add to that, so his only option is to stay steady, especially in a season where the Blue Jays have teased and teased, but never gotten close enough to shake the likelihood of selling.

“It’s kind of murky. I haven’t been told by anyone above me that we’re selling,” Schneider said.

Well, no one’s saying it out loud yet, at least. Friday’s win brought the Blue Jays (51-59) within 4 1/2 games of the final American League Wild Card spot, but that number can be deceiving. If they were one of just a couple clubs chasing that final spot, then turn on the jets and hit the Deadline as buyers. Beyond the Yankees and Red Sox in the top two Wild Card spots, though, they’re staring up at the Guardians, Astros, Twins, Orioles, Mariners and Tigers. It’s still a steep hill.

The easy comparison to make here is 2024, the disappointing season sandwiched on the other side of the Blue Jays’ incredible run a year ago. The Blue Jays flopped that year and were clear sellers at the Deadline, no debate and no false hope involved. This season feels much more tangled, which complicates how the players and coaches involved feel about this. It’s clear that they don’t see a full-blown sell-off being as much of a “guarantee” as it was that year.

“It’s easier to squint and see where you want to get to than it was in 2024. That’s why it’s different,” Schneider said. “My job and the staff’s job is to make it normal. We’ve got to go out and try to beat the Cardinals today. Whenever conversations happen -- if they happen -- you have them. It doesn’t feel as drastic as it did a couple of years ago.”

That’s Schneider’s job. It will be his job Saturday, too, when everyone wakes up wondering if Kevin Gausman will make his start, or if he could be a late scratch as trade talks heat up.

At this time of year, everything moves quickly. It builds and builds, then chaos erupts.

“Right now is a weird time,” Schneider said. “Me and the staff, you just can’t live in that world. If by Monday or Tuesday there’s more time to talk about it, then sure.”

We’re one day closer now, the ticking clock growing louder ahead of 6 p.m. ET on Monday.