Will Andres Giménez Be The Blue Jays' Starting Shortstop In 2026?

[Sam Charles]

The Toronto Blue Jays are preparing for a significant shift in their infield alignment heading into next season. As reported by Sportsnet earlier this month, the team wants to assign Andres Giménez one role next season.

Whether Bo Bichette re-signs or not, it appears Giménez won’t be returning to second base anytime soon. The Jays have decided to assign him one position and stick with it; it will be a departure from their recent strategy of shuffling players around the diamond to maximize lineup flexibility.

The comment seemed strange since the Jays spent last season shuffling players between positions. The versatility provided John Schneider with plenty of options for putting together line-ups that best positioned the team to win.

Obviously, the linchpin when it comes to who will be Toronto’s primary shortstop will be whether Bichette and the Jays come to terms. Even if he does sign, his defensive proficiency at the position has diminished in recent years; Bichette has always been an offence-first player.

Andres Giménez, on the other hand, is a defensive specialist. When he was traded to the Jays, there was hope that he’d be able to regain the offensive output he had in 2022. It was a season that earned him a big contract with Cleveland, but that pop never materialized, and he was shipped to the Jays before the 2025 season.

Giménez is one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball, ranking in the top five in defensive runs saved. He won three Gold Gloves with the Guardians (2022–24), a 2023 Platinum Glove, and offered top‑tier Outs Above Average (OAA), accumulating a +59 mark for his career.

For the first one and a half months of 2025, it seemed like Giménez might have figured things out at the plate, too, posting a .622 OPS in the first half of the season. As the season went on and injuries mounted, he returned to his offensive struggles, as he slid to a .556 OPS in the second half. He did have an impactful home run in the ALCS  and countless defensive plays during the season.

Does his offensive output matter in the end? Not so much.

For the Blue Jays, this defensive excellence is not a luxury but a necessity. Over the past several years, Toronto has built its roster around run prevention. Strong defense has been the backbone of their success, carrying them to the cusp of a World Series title. With Bichette’s late-season injury last season, the Jays were forced to expedite their experiment of whether or not Giménez could handle shortstop. He didn’t always look comfortable, but he filled in admirably, posting a neutral zero OAA in 119 innings.

Giménez has experience at short from his first year with the Mets in 2020 and played there intermittently in Cleveland and last season. His range metrics to cover more ground, and arm strength suggest he can easily make routine plays from the position. Playing defense is all about reps. Slight differences in routine and positioning can be challenging for even the top major leaguer.

If you look across the majors, there aren’t a lot of players who have successfully transitioned from being an established, everyday second baseman to a successful, everyday shortstop. It is usually the opposite; as players age, they shift from short to third. Players like Cal Ripken Jr. made that transition in the past, and Carlos Correa is doing it now.

That isn’t to say utility players can’t swap between positions. Last season, Ernie Clement played every infield position. Other players have done the same. In recent memory, Ben Zobrist and Tony Womack played significant time at both second and short throughout their careers. They were often valued for their defensive versatility rather than for handling either position permanently. Don’t overlook Mookie Betts, who moved from right field to second, then shortstop for the Dodgers. First in 2024 and then again last season.

Other examples highlight the rarity of such transitions. Most teams prefer to groom natural shortstops from the minor leagues rather than convert established veterans. The Jays’ willingness to buck convention underscores their confidence in Giménez’s abilities and their commitment to defence-first roster construction.

If Giménez takes over shortstop permanently, there is good reason to believe he will develop into a top-tier defender at the position. With his physical tools, such as range, sprint speed, and average‑plus arm, why wouldn’t he? His consistent defensive play could not only help the Blue Jays win more games but also alleviate some of the pressure on their pitchers.

So, it comes down to where Bichette would play if he re-signs. The Jays could certainly give him the choice of playing second or third. They could use it as a bargaining chip, an extra perk because they value his defensive contributions (just not at short). Clement is flexible enough to play whichever position Bichette declines.

The deal for Giménez was all run prevention up the middle. The big question now for the organization is which alignment maximizes total wins, not just which individual is best in a vacuum. The Jays’ decision on who will take over at short will continue to reflect a broader organizational philosophy. Rather than chasing offensive fireworks, they are building a team that wins with pitching and defense.

This approach may not always generate headlines, but it has proven effective. With Giménez at shortstop, the Jays will strengthen their run prevention edge and maximize their chances of winning close games. Giménez is signed through 2029 with a 2030 club option, escalating to $23 million average annual salary in the late years.

Shortstop should be a team’s most valuable defender. That player is often considered the captain of the infield, responsible for directing traffic, making split-second decisions, and maintaining consistency both defensively and offensively. With that argument, Giménez, as the team’s best fielder, should take that role. His elite defense will yield the biggest return, preserving the team’s run-prevention edge.

In the end, the Jays’ decision to install Andres Giménez as their everyday shortstop is a calculated gamble. Toronto is betting that defence wins championships. It nearly did last year, and just might in 2026. With Giménez at shortstop, they are doubling down on that philosophy. Whether Bichette stays or goes, the Jays have made their choice: the captain of their infield will be Andres Giménez.

View full article