All Eyes on the Infield

[Sam Charles]

Standing in the WestJet Flight Deck in May, a former member of the Blue Jays’ front office told me that it was unlikely Bo Bichette would be back as a Jay in 2026. He said that was part of the rationale for trading for Andrés Giménez, who was destined to be the team’s shortstop of the future.

At the time, it kind of made sense. Giménez seemed to have found his swing after losing it in Cleveland, and Bichette was only starting a mini campaign expressing his desire to stay in Toronto.

What transpired, as the Jays mounted a season to remember, is that Giménez lost his swing, and the Jays found a desire to retain Bichette. Where Bichette would play in the infield if he does re-sign is a topic for another article.

Ultimately, money talks, and there are some big teams (with big payrolls) that have expressed interest in Bichette.

Bichette is an exceptional hitter, but as a fielder, he ranks closer to the middle (if not the bottom) of the pack. Giménez is an exceptional fielder, but a bottom-of-the-order hitter.

Most likely, if Bichette signs elsewhere, Giménez shifts to shortstop. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stays at first. Second and third become available.

Ernie Clement (3.2 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement) did a great job at third last season. He was occasionally spelled by Addison Barger (2.2 fWAR), either to play second, have a night off or fill in at short.

Barger has a big bat, a cannon for an arm and is a pretty good fielder (as long as the ball isn’t popped up in the infield).

Davis Schneider (1.3 fWAR) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (0.7 WAR) also saw some action at second base through the season and managed the position well.

Schneider is under a pre-arbitration contract in 2026, while Kiner-Falefa is now a free agent.

If Bichette’s time with the franchise has come to an end, the Jays will need to decide who’s at second (or is that what’s at second?) and, potentially, who’s at third.

One possibility is already off the table with this week’s trade between the Rangers and the Mets. Marcus Semien (2.1 fWAR), who had a career-best season with the Jays in 2021, was traded to New York for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. Rumour has it that the trade makes room for the Mets to sign either Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. A move that would potentially impact the Jays as well.

So, Semien is no longer available.

Another highly interesting option would be José Ramírez (6.3 fWAR), whose contract runs until 2028 and includes a full no-trade clause. He is a third baseman but has, at times, played second and short. With the Jays' front office including former Cleveland front office employees Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro, there have been a number of deals between the two teams during their tenure. This proposed swap would definitely shake things up. Who would go in the other direction? The price just might be too high.

Recent reporting suggests that Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte (4.6 fWAR) might be on the market. Another big bat would potentially lessen the blow of losing Bichette’s in the lineup. Once again, the price might be too steep, but the Diamondbacks and the Jays have been trade partners before.

Earlier this month, the Braves exercised a $7 million option for their second baseman Ozzie Albies (1.3 fWAR). His contract includes one more club option in 2027 for the same amount. Despite his struggles in recent years, Albies could still offer a potent bat. Yet, due to his low salary, he would also come with a high price tag in terms of who the Braves might ask for in return.

As for free agents, that’s where the Jays' options become a bit more interesting.

The bigger names at second base include Willi Castro (0.5 fWAR), Jorge Polanco (2.6 fWAR), Jose Iglesias (-0.2 fWAR), Dylan Moore (-0.1 fWAR) and Ramón Urías (1,1 fWAR).

It is unlikely any of them would be difference-makers like Ramírez, Albies or Semien.

Shortstops and third basemen tend to be bigger difference-makers, but this year’s group at short doesn’t seem to hold many. Outside of Bichette, the other options include Miguel Rojas (1.7 fWAR), Ha-Seong Kim (0.3 fWAR) and Kiner-Falefa.

If the Jays decide to move Clement to second, their free agent options at third base offer a bit more pop, with a higher price tag. Alex Bregman (3.5 fWAR), who had been rumoured to be in talks with the Jays before signing with the Red Sox last year, is once again available. Eugenio Suárez (3.8 fWAR), who helped the Mariners get to the playoffs after being traded late in the season by the Diamondbacks, is also on the market.

And now we wait. Is a reunion actually in store for Bichette and the Jays?

If the Jays end up landing Tucker or Bellinger and a top-tier starter, what money would be left to bring in a free agent infielder? And while the trade route is interesting, would it leave a hole somewhere else? The only real surplus the Jays have is in the outfield, and I’m not sure those players are in the same echelon as the names above.

Another wrinkle in the Jays’ infield planning is the development within their farm system. Prospect Orelvis Martinez was designated for assignment in September and has since signed with the Nationals.

Leo Jiménez, who saw limited action in the big leagues this past season, might be closing in on being ready. Jiménez offers defensive versatility that could stabilize the infield if veterans depart. The Jays may decide that instead of paying a premium for established stars, the smarter play is to trust their pipeline and let the next wave of talent prove itself.

It was 2018, the last time the Jays had an infield that did not include either Bichette or Guerrero, but 2026 might end that streak and make room for another. Depending on which infield positions the Jays target for a change, it will most likely be a better defensive group, but perhaps at the cost of offensive output.

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