Jonatan Clase is back in Toronto, and his return says a lot about where the Blue Jays sit as the trade deadline approaches.
The 24-year-old switch-hitting outfielder was recalled with George Springer going on the paternity list as the 36-year-old designated hitter prepares to welcome his third child. For now, Clase slides onto the big league roster and gets another shot in the majors after making his MLB debut last year.
This is Clase’s first time back in the majors this season. He appeared in 34 games during the 2025 campaign and hit .210/.288/.300 with two home runs, nine RBIs and three stolen bases.
At Triple-A Buffalo this year, Clase has shown more of the same profile that keeps him interesting: speed, defense and enough bat to stay in the conversation. In 53 games, he has hit .223/.321/.359 with five home runs, 23 RBIs and 17 steals. He hasn’t committed an error in 254 innings in the outfield, and his 17 stolen bases lead the Bisons.
But Clase’s promotion is bigger than one roster move. It points straight at what may be Toronto’s clearest trade deadline advantage: outfield depth.
The Blue Jays have piled up options on the grass, especially left-handed hitters, and that gives them something to work with if they decide to shop for help elsewhere. Along with Clase, Toronto has Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger, Anthony Santander, Yohendrick Piñango and Jesús Sánchez. At Triple-A, RJ Schreck and Carlos Mendoza are also left-handed hitting outfielders.
That kind of surplus matters even more because several of these players may not be part of the long-term picture anyway. Varsho is headed for free agency after the season, and if the Blue Jays haven’t already moved toward an extension, the source of this report suggests they likely won’t.
Lukes has been productive enough that Toronto would have to seriously consider a deal if another club came calling with a top pitching prospect. The same logic applies to Sánchez.
Nathan Lukes brings the @BlueJays level with a 2-run homer! pic.twitter.com/gRnvzbupic
- MLB (@MLB) June 28, 2026
Barger and Piñango present a different kind of decision. Either could still matter to the Blue Jays’ future, but they also overlap in the playing-time puzzle.
Barger has spent most of this season on the shelf, which means his trade value is probably lower than it has ever been. Piñango, meanwhile, has taken advantage of injuries and has put up a .762 OPS and 111 wRC+, numbers that could catch the eye of contenders.
For Toronto, this might be the peak of his trade value.
Schreck and Mendoza are both 26 and have not reached the majors.
Santander adds another layer. Manager John Schneider said a few weeks ago that he is expected to start a rehab assignment soon, and if another contender watches that process and wants to take on his contract, Toronto would have a tough time ignoring the money involved compared with the production it has received.
Anthony Santander is scheduled to start hitting "either this weekend or next", John Schneider said. So, sometime soon.
"There's a shot he could definitely be a factor."
Long road from here, which will essentially be a full, slow, Spring Training build-up. We'll see. #BlueJays
- Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) June 18, 2026
There are good reasons to keep these outfielders in the organization, and just as many reasons to move them. But the bigger point is hard to miss: if everyone were healthy, Toronto wouldn’t have enough playing time to go around anyway.
That’s what makes this group such a valuable trade chip. The Blue Jays can use their outfield surplus to address other needs without wrecking their future plans.
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