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Atkins: Blue Jays focused on 'adding and winning'

Kevin Jairaj / USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays are heading into the non-waiver trade deadline as buyers.

"We only are focused on adding and winning," general manager Ross Atkins told MLB Network Radio on Thursday. "It's a lot easier, a lot more fun to think that way."

Following a franchise-worst start, the Blue Jays have bounced back over the last month and enter Thursday's series finale with the Texas Rangers with a chance to reach the elusive .500 mark for the first time this season.

While Atkins is impressed with his team's response following an overwhelming amount of injuries, he did acknowledge that its identity as a deadline buyer could be changed by another rough patch.

"We also realize all 30 teams have to stay agile. A lot can happen in a month," Atkins said. "We could rattle off 20 of the next 30, or the opposite of that could happen, and we could lose 20 of the next 30. So, that will be the most telling. We have a really strong stretch coming up where we play in our division a ton and play Houston before the break. (We then) come out of that and play Boston and Cleveland.

"We're going to have a lot of clarity, but right now we wake up every day thinking - can we improve our offense in any way? Our defense in any way?"

DATE OPPONENT RECORD
June 23-25 @Royals 35-36
June 27-29 Orioles 35-36
June 30 - July 2 Red Sox 40-32
July 3-5 @Yankees 39-30
July 6-9 Astros 49-24
July 10-13 All-Star Break
July 14-16 @Tigers 32-39
July 17-20 @Red Sox 40-32
July 21-23 @Indians 38-32

Toronto most likely needs help in the outfield, in the rotation, and could perhaps add a bullpen arm. Devon Travis' injury would also seem to put the Blue Jays on the lookout for help at second base, though Atkins sounds content with keeping things how they are at second.

"We don't have a lot of positions where we have clear, easy upgrades," Atkins said. "Even at second base with Darwin Barney and Ryan Goins, we like that combination."

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