Blue Jays Announce Ernie Clement News on Friday

As Clement prepares for the 2026 season, the Blue Jays had a decision to make on his contract. Toronto had the option to non-tender Clement and make him a free agent.

However, the Blue Jays announced Friday they tendered him a contract, keeping him with the organization next year. “ROSTER UPDATE: All unsigned players on our 40-man roster have been tendered contracts for 2026,” the team wrote on X. Included in the graphic was a picture of Clement, confirming his return as one of the unsigned players now under contract.

Being tendered a contract simply means the team chose to keep a player under control for the upcoming season instead of letting him hit free agency. This move signals that the Blue Jays value Clement’s role and want him back in the fold for 2026, giving him security while the team maintains roster flexibility.

Clement will enter his fourth season in Toronto next year after joining the organization ahead of the 2023 season. He previously debuted for the Cleveland Guardians in 2021 and had a brief stint with the Athletics before landing with the Blue Jays. His ability to play excellent defense at multiple positions has been extremely valuable for manager John Schneider.

While his offensive production in the MLB playoffs likely will not continue at the same level and he will remain closer to a league-average hitter, his defense keeps him as a key piece of the Blue Jays moving forward. He was nominated for a Gold Glove this year but ultimately did not win.

Clement still has three more years of arbitration, meaning he will likely stick with Toronto and try to help them return to the World Series for the foreseeable future.