Ross Atkins isn’t handing Ernie Clement the second-base job for 2027 on a silver platter.
The Blue Jays value Clement’s bat-to-ball skills, his defensive range and the way he can fill in almost anywhere, but the club’s general manager made it clear on Wednesday that nothing is being pre-assigned. During his year-end media availability on Sept. 30, Atkins praised Clement’s value while stopping short of calling him the everyday answer at second base next season.
Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported Atkins saying, “He’s got to earn every bit of that… We’re always trying to complement every player the best that we can. Ernie can be an everyday, impactful player. He can also be a player that takes 500 at-bats and plays at a really high level and because we’re such a good team, he isn’t the guy that’s being pencilled in every day.”
That stance fits the way Toronto seems to be thinking about Clement. The Blue Jays may want to use his flexibility more strategically instead of locking him into one spot.
In 2026, Clement played 132 games at second base, 14 at third, 40 at shortstop and three in left field. The year before, he was spread across third base, second base and shortstop, and in 2025 he also picked up a nomination for the Gold Glove award for utility players and as a third baseman.
The bigger picture from Atkins’ comments is that Toronto is looking for more offense, especially more power and more consistency. Second base and the outfield look like the most obvious places to add it, and Clement’s presence gives the front office room to chase upgrades without needing a full overhaul.
One name that jumps off the page is Brandon Lowe. The free agent is coming off a 35-homer season and an .824 OPS with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Blue Jays should have the financial flexibility to make a strong multi-year push for the 32-year-old.
There are other possibilities, too. Toronto could explore Luis Arraez, who hit .310 with a 110 wRC+; Jazz Chisholm Jr., who hit 19 home runs; or Ozzie Albies, if he opts out of his deal, after a 22-homer season.
The Blue Jays could also target a free-agent shortstop such as Mauricio Dubón, who hit 12 home runs and posted 2.4 fWAR, or J.P. Crawford, who hit 14 home runs with a 105 wRC+, then shift that player - or Andrés Giménez - to second base.
And if the Jays want to keep things in-house, there are some names to watch, even if none carry Lowe’s track record. Charles McAdoo hit 16 home runs in 89 Triple-A games and added three more in 36 big-league games, though he finished with a .694 OPS at the major-league level.
Josh Kasevich hit .282/.364/.363 with four home runs for Buffalo. Jay Harry posted 14 homers in 105 minor-league games and slashed .298/.343/.495.
Addison Barger is another possible fit if Toronto decides to move him back onto the dirt. He had season-ending elbow surgery in July after going on the injured list in May.
Barger fired a 101.2 mph throw home from right field against the LA Angels, but the long-term health question could push him toward a position change. In the minors, he saw time at shortstop and second base, though he was mainly a third baseman and outfielder.
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Kevin Gausman Just Reopened A Blue Jays Reunion Question
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For Toronto, it is enough to reopen a familiar question about whether Gausman could wind up back where he started the year. Nothing has been decided yet, but his emotional postgame interview only added fuel to the idea that his situation may not be settled, and the Blue Jays will be watching closely as the offseason starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Varsho Trade Looks Wilder After New Injury Twist
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On Torontos side of the deal, pitcher Spencer Arrighetti has not delivered immediate returns since the deadline, but the organization still views him as part of its long-term picture. That leaves this trade looking less like a clean exchange and more like one of those front-office decisions that keeps changing shape as new injury information comes out. Varshos operation does not resolve the bigger question around what Toronto really got, only makes the original move look even more layered. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Face Two Offseason Questions That Could Shape Everything
The Blue Jays are heading into an offseason that could feel decisive before spring training even opens. After a year in which the roster still left room for more stability, the biggest needs are clear enough: strengthen the starting rotation and add more certainty in the outfield. Toronto does not need a wholesale rebuild, but it does need impact additions, and the market offers a few names that could help immediately.
Kevin Gausman and Shota Imanaga stand out as the starting-pitching possibilities, while Seiya Suzuki, Trevor Rogers and Randy Arozarena are among the outfield options worth tracking. The fit questions are different for each player, but the broader aim is simple for Toronto: find one reliable starter and one proven outfielder who can raise the floor of the roster. Whether the front office can line up those pieces will go a long way toward shaping how competitive this team looks next season. [Read more 🡒]