Blue Jays Coaching Change: John Lannan Out for 2027, Atkins Says — Nov. 11 Update

Verified and updated: November 11, 2026, 3:12 p.m. EST (Toronto, UTC−05:00).

The Toronto Blue Jays’ first confirmed coaching-staff change for 2027 is the departure of major-league mental performance coach John Lannan. General manager Ross Atkins said on November 10 that Lannan will not return and that this is the only coaching change made so far. No replacement has been announced. The news is a targeted adjustment, not a broad overhaul: manager John Schneider and the other listed major-league coaches remain on MLB’s current staff page.

Destaques

• John Lannan will not return as the Blue Jays’ major-league mental performance coach in 2027.
• Atkins said Lannan’s departure is the only coaching-staff change so far.
• Toronto has not named a successor or confirmed further coaching appointments.
• Schneider’s extension runs through 2028, according to contemporaneous reporting.

What changed on the Blue Jays’ coaching staff?

Lannan is the only confirmed departure in the latest update. Atkins’ comments were reported by Blue Jays Insider and Athlon Sports, citing The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon. The reports say Lannan will not be back for 2027; neither identifies a successor.

Lannan joined Toronto’s organization in 2020, working in mental performance with minor-league affiliates before moving onto the major-league staff ahead of the 2024 season, according to those reports. His role focused on the mental side of player preparation and development. That background makes the eventual replacement relevant across the organization, although the club has not described its hiring timeline or outlined any changes to the programme.

Who remains in place for 2027?

At the time of this update, the Blue Jays’ official MLB coaching roster lists Schneider as manager, with DeMarlo Hale as associate manager, Pete Walker as pitching coach, David Popkins as hitting coach, and the rest of the major-league group. The page still lists Lannan in his current role, so it should be read as a roster snapshot rather than confirmation of the 2027 staff after his announced departure.

Schneider is staying on as manager. Athlon reports that his March extension runs through 2028. The latest announcement does not identify a new coach, a promotion, or a change to the responsibilities of the other staff members. It also does not establish that further changes are ruled out for the rest of the offseason; Atkins’ statement describes the changes made so far.

Why is this change drawing attention?

The timing follows a sharp reversal in results. Toronto finished 2026 with a 79–83 record, last in the American League East, after reaching Game 7 of the World Series in 2025, according to the cited coverage. Atkins had said after the season that the organisation’s work needed assessment. In that context, fans are watching to see whether one personnel decision becomes part of a wider review.

What is confirmed is the departure. Any claim that it signals a specific diagnosis of the club’s performance would go beyond the information made public. A mental performance coach works on preparation and mindset; the available reporting does not attribute the team’s record to Lannan or say why Toronto decided not to bring him back.

What could happen next for Toronto?

The immediate open question is who will lead major-league mental performance work in 2027. A hire could come from within the organisation or outside it, but no candidate or timetable has been reported in the sources checked. The Blue Jays’ official staff listing can change as appointments are confirmed, so readers should distinguish the current roster page from an announced next-season roster.

For now, the practical takeaway is limited but clear: Toronto has confirmed one staff departure, with no replacement named and no additional coaching change confirmed in Atkins’ latest comments. Whether the club later adds or reshapes roles remains an offseason question, not an announced plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is John Lannan leaving the Blue Jays?

Yes. Ross Atkins said Lannan will not return to the major-league staff for 2027.

Have the Blue Jays named Lannan’s replacement?

No replacement has been announced in the reporting checked for this update.

Is John Schneider returning?

Yes. Schneider remains manager, and reporting says his extension runs through 2028.