LAS VEGAS -- The Blue Jays remained pretty quiet at this year's Winter Meetings, and their week will be defined by those who left the organization as opposed to those who joined.
Toronto's biggest move of the week was parting ways with veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. After parts of four disappointing seasons with the Blue Jays -- save for some memorable postseason moments -- general manager Ross Atkins decided he was no longer worth having on the roster.
The Blue Jays decided to release Tulowitzki and the $38 million he has remaining over the next two years. That's a hefty bill with no chance of a return, but Atkins and his front office felt it was the appropriate move to make, as it clears room for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and the organization's younger players.
The other two notable departures this week were Jordan Romano and Travis Bergen, who left via the Rule 5 Draft. The additions for the Blue Jays will be put off until a later day, but make no mistake about it: This roster still has many holes that need to be filled before Opening Day.

"It could be days, it could be weeks, but we certainly accompished what we set out to accompish while we were here," Atkins said when asked on the final day if he was any closer to making a move.
BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS
1. Starting pitching
The Blue Jays need at least one, and ideally two, starting pitchers. Atkins said he made progress in both trade and free-agent options for starters earlier this week, and it's possible there could be some movement there in the near future.
2. Relief pitching
Toronto needs another set-up man, a left-handed reliever and more depth, but this part of the roster might be put on the back burner until the rotation is taken care of. Expect the Blue Jays to hunt for bargains like they did a year ago when Seunghwan Oh, John Axford and Tyler Clippard were all signed late and to low-level deals.
3. Back-up shortstop
The departure of Tulowitzki creates a need for a back-up shortstop. The utility-infielder job likely belongs to Richard Urena, but the Blue Jays would be well served to add another option -- likely in the form of a Minor League deal -- to protect against injuries. That way, No. 2 prospect Bo Bichette won't be rushed to the big leagues if either Gurriel or Urena gets hurt.

RULE 5 DRAFT
Toronto picked right-hander Elvis Luciano from the Royals with the 10th overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft despite the fact that he is 18 years old and has never pitched above Rookie ball. The Blue Jays also lost a pair of promising pitchers, as Romano went to the White Sox and Bergen went to the Giants.
In the Minor League phase of the draft, the Blue Jays picked right-hander David Garner, who missed all of 2018 after testing positive for a banned recreational substance. The Giants then combed the Blue Jays organization for a second time by taking lefty Sam Moll in the second round.

GM'S BOTTOM LINE
"We have an incredible feel for the opportunities. At some point, either we'll have to push a little bit, or someone else will blink, and we'll start to move closer toward executing one of the deals, but we have a very good feel for our opportunities." -- Atkins