Exploring Blue Jays’ choices at second base for subsequent season

When Ross Atkins met the media following the conclusion of the Toronto Blue Jays’ season, few of his feedback made waves, however what he stated about Ernie Clement was noteworthy.

A scarcity of dedication to beginning Clement at second in 2027 shouldn’t essentially be shocking given his manufacturing this season, however the infielder appeared within the All-Star Game after a robust begin to 2026, was a Gold Glove finalist in each 2024 and 2025 and set the MLB post-season document for hits final 12 months. He’s an achieved participant to probably demote from an on a regular basis position.

There are a number of explanation why it is sensible for the Blue Jays to contemplate the fan favorite’s position tenuous heading into the offseason, although, starting from his tough 2026 to the potential alternate options out there.

There’s no denying that Clement was an efficient on a regular basis participant for the Blue Jays in 2024 and 2025. He compensated for an absence of persistence and uncooked energy by making contact with just about the whole lot and supplied elite defensive contributions — primarily at third base.

Clement wasn’t practically as efficient in 2026. His low-walk, low-strikeout profile endured, however his contact, which was by no means thunderous, obtained softer than it’d been in 2025, resulting in loads of innocent outs in play. Only 5 certified hitters had a decrease exit velocity than Clement’s 84.4 mph, and simply three had a decrease hard-hit fee. His xwOBA of .258 was the second-worst amongst certified hitters. He didn’t excel by these metrics earlier than, however they had been extra palatable, permitting him to publish a near-average 96 wRC+ between 2024 and 2025. In 2026, that quantity dropped to 80, narrowly worse than glove-first shortstop Andrés Giménez (81).

On defence, Clement’s work (primarily at second base) earned a minus-5 OAA rating from Statcast, placing him within the twelfth percentile league-wide. That quantity seemingly undersells Clement’s ability set, and he made some stellar performs over the course of the 12 months that recommend his athleticism hasn’t deserted him.

• He’s about to enter his age-31 season
• His offence has by no means been league-average over the course of a full MLB marketing campaign
• His manufacturing on the plate is tied up in a singular ability (contact) and has nothing to fall again on if that slips
• His defensive excellence is way extra confirmed at 3B than 2B
• His defensive versatility is suited to a super-utility position
• The Blue Jays have a 1B, 3B, SS, and C all signed by a minimum of 2029

If Toronto hopes to considerably enhance its position-player core, the outfield may use a revamp, however the second-base place can be a logical spot to discover upgrades.

Internal choices for 2B at-bats

Josh Smith: After taking part in at second base sparingly early in his profession, Smith logged extra video games on the keystone (45) than another place in 2026. The utility man is coming off a tough season, however his numbers from 2024-25 aren’t dissimilar from Clement’s manufacturing throughout these years.

Smith is a barely higher guess than Clement to provide offensively subsequent 12 months, however he’s prone to provide much less within the area. If the crew doesn’t look externally for second-base assist, the 2 gamers could possibly be blended and matched on the place, however Smith is unlikely to surge to the highest of the depth chart until he will get scorching over an prolonged time period. Smith has been productive with starter-like workloads up to now, however he’s finest utilized as a roving utility participant.

Charles McAdoo: McAdoo has began simply 33 video games at second base as a professional, and he hasn’t confirmed himself as a major-league hitter. His mixture of bat pace, uncooked energy and dash pace is a compelling mixture, however he gained’t be handed something getting into 2027.

If the 24-year-old finally ends up taking at-bats away from Clement or others subsequent season, it will likely be as a result of he compelled the crew’s hand with sturdy manufacturing — both off the bench or at triple-A. 

Possible free-agent targets

Jazz Chisholm Jr.: Chisholm’s inventory isn’t at an all-time excessive following a season the place his offence was narrowly under league-average (98 wRC+); he earned criticism for sucking lollipops on the sphere, and he obtained benched for Game 1 of the wild-card sequence.

The athletic 28-year-old isn’t any stranger to a baffling blunder, however he’s additionally extraordinarily proficient and youthful than most free brokers. He’s produced between 3.5 and 4.3 fWAR in every of the final three seasons with a 30 home-run marketing campaign and two 40-steal efforts. Chisholm’s mixture of energy and pace may deliver dynamism to a Blue Jays offence that always labored station-to-station in 2026, counting on strings of singles and making little or no occur on the bottom paths. 

Brandon Lowe: Lowe could also be 32, however he simply posted a career-high 4.9 fWAR, and he’s hit 30-plus dwelling runs in consecutive seasons. The former Tampa Bay Rays mainstay is a dependable supply of left-handed pop, who’s made a profession of mashing right-handed pitching (135 wRC+ vs. RHP).

After a season when the Blue Jays had been so bereft of energy, he can be an interesting choice, however he’s struggled with accidents at instances, and his defensive numbers have fluctuated wildly in current seasons. Lowe is a protected guess to assist the center of a lineup in 2027, however his longevity as an all-around contributor could possibly be questioned. 

Luis Arraez: Considering the one a part of Toronto’s offence that labored final season was its contact hitting, it appears unlikely the crew will add MLB’s most excessive contact hitter to the combination. 

At the identical time, a second baseman who hasn’t turned 30 but, coming off a 4.1 fWAR season, is worthy of consideration. Arraez improved defensively in 2026 to spherical out his general worth; he’s performed a minimum of 144 video games in 5 consecutive seasons, and he’s been an above-average hitter by wRC+ in yearly of his profession. There’s quite a bit to love with the eight-year veteran, however his stylistic match might give the Blue Jays pause.

Pursuing Marte can be sophisticated and dangerous. The solely motive it’s price any consideration is that he’s a outstanding all-around contributor. Despite his relative down 12 months in 2026, he nonetheless ranks 18th amongst place gamers in fWAR during the last 4 seasons (18.9). His 111 dwelling runs throughout that point are the 14th-highest whole league-wide. A Marte commerce doesn’t appear seemingly, however he has the most effective MLB monitor document of any second baseman who could possibly be accessible.

Zach Neto: Neto has been a shortstop throughout his MLB profession, however he’s by no means graded out effectively defensively, and will look higher at second. The 25-year-old has three extra seasons of crew management and has been one of many extra constant place gamers within the majors not too long ago.

From 2024 to 2026, Neto has hit between 23 and 27 dwelling runs, stolen between 24 and 30 bases, and produced between 3.3 and 4.0 fWAR every season. His wRC+ has been both 116 or 117 in every of these years. It would take a major bundle to pry Neto from the Los Angeles Angels, however the membership just isn’t near competing and has to contemplate transferring off gamers with restricted time period remaining — because it did with the José Soriano deal.

C.J. Abrams: Abrams is one other long-time shortstop, however not like Neto, his transition to second base is already underway. He’s underneath management for 2 extra seasons, and the Washington Nationals might conclude they aren’t shut sufficient to competition to maintain him.

While Neto’s enchantment is within the consistency of his manufacturing, Abrams broke out offensively final season, hitting a career-high 33 dwelling runs as his wRC+ reached 124. Whether he’d be capable to sustain that degree of manufacturing is up for debate. His wRC+ by no means exceeded 105 earlier than 2026, and his new degree of energy wasn’t pushed by a major bounce in bat pace or exit velocity. Part of his enchantment is that he brings left-handed energy that Toronto lacks, and he’s a good greater base-stealing risk than Neto. Since he broke by as a full-time starter in 2023, he’s stolen a minimum of 30 bases every season, and his whole of 143 swipes ranks fifth within the majors.