Ernie Clement is the kind of player who jumps off the screen. He plays like he was dropped in from another era, the sort of guy who never takes a pitch off and seems to attack every at-bat with the same attitude no matter who’s standing in front of him.
That edge, along with everything else he brings, is exactly why he means so much to the Blue Jays. Clement can move around the diamond, gives full effort on defense every time out, and has become one of the most popular players on the roster and in the city. Toronto fans made that clear by pushing him to the top of the vote and sending him to start in his first All-Star Game in 2026.
Still, if the goal is to build the best possible Blue Jays team for 2027, Clement would not be the preferred answer at second base.
That’s where an aggressive winter could change the shape of the lineup. With free agency opening the door to upgrades, Toronto could target a bat in the outfield and another at second base. Two names that stand out are Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe.
Both would bring power and steadiness, which would fit neatly into a lineup that should also get Anthony Santander and Addison Barger back in 2027.
Suzuki has already stacked up 113 home runs, 382 RBIs, a 128 wRC+ and 15.7 fWAR since reaching the majors in 2022. His 4.6 fWAR in 2026 was the best of his career, and for the first time he added positive defensive value with 1.5 Def.
Lowe turned in his best season in 2026 as well. At age 31, he set career highs with 35 home runs, 96 RBIs and a 4.9 fWAR, while also posting the strongest defensive season of his career.
His value came from both sides of the game. Lowe ranked in the 87th percentile in Batting Run Value and climbed all the way to the 98th percentile in Fielding Run Value.
In a setup like that, Toronto’s lineup and defensive alignment would look a lot different. Suzuki would handle left field, though he could also shift to his natural spot in right. Barger would be in right field, Santander would serve as the designated hitter, and the infield would be strong enough that only Kazuma Okamoto posted a negative defensive performance in 2026.
Clement would still have a role, just not as the everyday second baseman. He would slide into a utility job, starting at shortstop against lefties or covering third base to give Okamoto some rest at different points in the season.
The Blue Jays would still need to keep looking for a center fielder, and Brett Bateman was mentioned as a possible option there. If Toronto winds up spending less or runs into some other obstacle, he could be the fallback.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Mourn A Voice Who Helped Shape Franchise History
Larry Millson, whose name was woven into Blue Jays coverage for more than three decades, has died, the team announced Oct. 7. A longtime Toronto writer and recipient of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fames Jack Graney Award, Millson became one of the most respected voices in baseball journalism, filing stories for numerous outlets while helping chronicle the franchises rise and its place in the Canadian game.
The Blue Jays responded with condolences for his family and a tribute that reflected just how deeply he was connected to the organizations history. For readers who followed the team year after year, Millson was part of the steady backdrop of the sport in this country, one of those reporters whose work outlived the days score and helped shape the way Canadian baseball was covered. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Youth Movement Just Changed Toronto's Offseason Pressure
Brett Batemans quick adjustment after arriving at the trade deadline gave the Blue Jays a real jolt, and his mix of contact at the plate and steady work in the field helped push him into the conversation for a longer look. Charles McAdoo followed a similar path, making the kind of in-season adjustments that can turn a depth piece into a useful utility option, while Spencer Miles emerged as one of the bigger bright spots on the pitching side with the kind of rookie season Toronto can build around.
The bigger picture for Toronto is that the youth movement is no longer just a talking point, it is starting to shape how the roster gets built. Sean Keys and Piango still look like players who need more seasoning before they can be counted on every day, which leaves the Blue Jays with some real decisions to make about how much pressure to place on the kids and how aggressively to chase outside help this winter. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Prospects Are Already Shaking Up Torontos Next Wave
The Arizona Fall League has become the first real showcase for several Blue Jays prospects, with Toronto sending a mix of arms and position players to get one more round of meaningful reps before the winter. Brandon Barriera, Jake Bloss, Gilberto Batista, Fernando Perez and Yondrei Rojas are on the pitching side, while catcher Aaron Parker and outfielders Jake Casey and Jake Cook are getting a chance to sort out where they fit in the organizations next wave.
Early returns have been encouraging in different ways. Bloss and Barriera have each turned in strong pitching outings, Parker has flashed offensive upside even if the strikeouts remain part of the profile, and Cook and Casey have offered a reminder of how varied this group can be, one bringing speed and the other more power. For a Toronto system looking to keep adding depth around the edges, the fall league is already doing its job by clarifying which prospects are starting to separate themselves. [Read more 🡒]