Here's Why the Blue Jays Claimed Ben Cowles

[Leo Morgenstern]

When I saw the news that the Blue Jays had claimed Ben Cowles, my first thought was, "Why?"

Then I thought about it some more, and I realized it actually made quite a bit of sense. Cowles isn't a super flashy acquisition, but Toronto needed him more than you might think.

Cowles, 26, started his career in the Yankees organization. A 10th-round draft pick in 2021, he was never a highly-ranked prospect, but he played well as he moved up the system. In 325 games from summer 2021 to summer 2024, moving from the Florida Complex League to Double-A Somerset, he hit for a 126 wRC+. The Cubs liked what he was doing enough to request him in the deal that sent Mark Leiter Jr. back to the Yankees (even though he had a broken wrist at the time), and after the season, Chicago added him to its 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. 

Heading into 2025, Cowles also earned the attention of prospect evaluators across the industry. FanGraphs ranked him 22nd in the Cubs' system. Baseball America and The Athletic both had him at 14. It was the first time any of those sources had included him on their lists. The Athletic's Keith Law praised his "feel for the strike zone" and "hand-eye coordination," while BA highlighted his ability to square up the baseball and crush breaking pitches. FanGraphs had less approbation for his bat but more for his glove. All three publications saw a big league future for him as a utility infielder.

Unfortunately, that wrist injury seemed to affect him a lot more than the Cubs thought it would. Not only did Cowles hit poorly in the four games in which he appeared in September 2024 and the 19 games he played in the Arizona Fall League, but he struggled badly throughout the 2025 campaign. Instead of making his MLB debut at some point last year – like many thought he would – he hit for a 75 wRC+ through the end of August, earning himself a DFA. He wasn't any better in September after the White Sox claimed him off waivers, posting a 42 wRC+ in his final 15 games. 

Cowles was DFA'd twice more this winter. The White Sox cut him in January and the Cubs claimed him back, only to drop him again a month later. This time, it was the Blue Jays who scooped him up. 

So that's Ben Cowles. He's coming off a very poor 2025 campaign, but he hit well each of the three years prior. He's 26 and yet to make his MLB debut, but he's only one year removed from being a ranked prospect. We're not talking about a future All-Star here, but Cowles has a very real chance to become a capable big league bench bat.

The Blue Jays could use someone like that. I mean, hopefully they don't have to. But good teams can't rely on hope.

Right now, they project to carry these infielders on their Opening Day roster: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez, and Kazuma Okamoto, as well as infielders/outfielders Addison Barger and Davis Schneider. If another infielder manages to sneak his way into the mix, it will probably be Leo Jiménez. The 24-year-old has MLB experience, he's much more established in the organization, and he's all out of minor league options. 

Cowles has two option years remaining. That's why he's less likely to break camp with Toronto. But it's also precisely why the Jays acquired him. If Jiménez doesn't make the Opening Day roster (and barring an injury, I don't see how he does), the team will have to designate him for assignment. It's very likely another club would claim him, and all of a sudden, the Blue Jays wouldn't have any infield depth on their 40-man. In that event, an injury would mean they'd have to start the clock on someone else, likely Josh Kasevich, before they necessarily thought he was ready. With Cowles, that's no longer a concern.

So yeah, I like this pickup. The Jays effectively had a free 40-man spot (a 60-day IL placement for Bowden Francis was inevitable), and they used it to add depth – and a bit of upside – in a place they really needed it. Good teams add players like Dylan Cease and Tyler Rogers, but they also know when to make small moves like this.

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