The Blue Jays are heading into another offseason with work to do, and one of the clearest questions sits right in the middle of the infield. After a disappointing year following their World Series appearance, Toronto is looking for ways to steady the roster and add some punch.
One name that keeps surfacing is Jazz Chisholm Jr. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa sees a path for Toronto if Ernie Clement is shifted into more of a utility role instead of being locked into one spot every day.
“Ernie Clement crashed hard in the second half and has always fit better as a super utility guy who moves around rather than someone who plays one set position every day. The Blue Jays desperately need a power infusion, particularly from the left side of the plate, and Chisholm's defense and baserunning will fit in nicely as well.
I wonder if any teams would show interest in Chisholm at third base or center field, two positions he's played in the past. Second base in Toronto is my best guess for now,” Axisa wrote.
That idea fits with the broader picture around Toronto’s infield. SI’s Zion Trammell noted that the group mostly stays intact, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. expected to rebound, Clement and Andres Gimenez handling the middle, and Okamoto at the hot corner. From there, the Blue Jays could still look for a cheaper infielder to round things out.
“The infield largely remains the same. Toronto hopes for a bounce-back season from Guerrero Jr., while Clement and Gimenez are up the middle, and Okamoto stays at the hot corner. The Blue Jays could add another low-cost infielder this offseason," Trammell wrote.
Chisholm’s situation in New York also leaves the door open. He has reportedly wanted to return to the Bronx, but SNY’s Phillip Martinez wrote that a Yankees reunion may not happen as the club looks ahead to 2027.
“As the Yankees look to retool their roster for the 2027 season, there's a massive hole they will need to fill. Second base, manned by Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the last two seasons, will explore free agency and it's likely he will not return to the Bronx," Martinez wrote.
If Toronto does make the move, it would be bringing in a player from a division rival who offers help in multiple areas. Chisholm also may have extra motivation after limited postseason playing time, especially with the Yankees on the other side.
In Other News...
Yankees Just Lost An Outfield Option They Clearly Needed
The Yankees had been keeping an eye on Washington center fielder Jacob Young as they looked ahead to the outfield picture, but that avenue is now closed after Young signed a four-year extension with the Nationals. It is a notable miss for a club still sorting through its long-term alignment, especially with Spencer Jones viewed as the leading candidate to take over as the everyday center fielder in 2027.
For now, the Yankees will have to keep working the market for other ways to stabilize the position and add depth. Free agent Myles Straw is one possible name, and Jasson Dominguez could also factor into the discussion as a fourth outfielder option, but losing Young narrows the pool at a time when the team clearly wanted more certainty in the grass. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Just Lost A Key Behind The Scenes Edge
Tanner Swanson is moving on after becoming one of the more respected behind-the-scenes voices in the Yankees organization, leaving his post as the clubs catching instructor to join the Mariners as bench coach. For a team that has leaned heavily on defensive structure and preparation, his role carried real weight even if it rarely drew much public attention.
Swansons exit leaves a noticeable gap in the Yankees coaching staff, especially in an area where detail work and game planning matter every day. The move also underscores how much of a contenders edge can come from the people working out of the spotlight, and how quickly that edge can shift when one of those pieces is gone. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Already Be Headed For A Ryan McMahon Reset
Ryan McMahons first months in pinstripes have not gone the way the Yankees hoped when they brought him in, and the fit has already started to look shaky on both sides of the ball. The club added him with the expectation that he could stabilize third base, but his struggles offensively and defensively have left the Yankees weighing how long they can afford to keep waiting for the turnaround.
Now there is already chatter that the next move could come as soon as the offseason, with a league source suggesting New York may explore trading McMahon and even eating part of the salary to make a deal easier. If that route becomes realistic, it would also open the door for the Yankees to look elsewhere at third, with Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero among the internal names in the mix as the organization considers its next step. [Read more 🡒]