Blue Jays Announce Replacement After Unfortunate News

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Blue Jays Announce Replacement After Unfortunate News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Aug 21, 2026 5:23 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays made multiple moves at this year’s trade deadline to address their depth. One of the more under-the-radar additions was acquiring utility man Josh Smith from the Texas Rangers.

Smith, alongside All-Star Ernie Clement, gave manager John Schneider the flexibility to design his infield and lineup as he saw fit. Unfortunately, that flexibility is coming to an early end after just weeks.

The Blue Jays announced before Friday’s game against the New York Yankees that Smith had been placed on the 10-day injured list with left hamstring inflammation. “He didn’t feel great, and then today was running a little bit, he got to 60, 50 percent and still can feel it a little bit,” Schneider said when asked about Smith’s condition by Hazel Mae of Sportsnet.

As a result, the team had to make a corresponding roster move, deciding to recall Davis Schneider as the replacement.

ROSTER MOVES:

RHP Spencer Arrighetti reinstated from the 15-day IL and will be active tonight

INF/OF Davis Schneider recalled from Triple-A and will be active tonight

LHP Brendan Cellucci optioned to Triple-A

INF Josh Smith (left hamstring inflammation) placed… pic.twitter.com/Re4pt5dVX9
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 21, 2026

It is unclear how long Smith will be out, but he is scheduled for an MRI on Saturday that will determine the severity of the issue. Smith had been disappointing during his time with the Rangers this year, but across 14 games with the Blue Jays he had been very productive, posting a .250 batting average, .323 on-base percentage and .787 OPS.

Davis Schneider will do his best to provide that same value in his second stint with the big-league club this year.

Schneider has bounced between the big leagues and Triple-A this season and has really struggled at the plate, posting a .142 batting average, .295 on-base percentage and .569 OPS across 61 games.

He does provide similar versatility to Smith, capable of playing both the infield and outfield, though not quite at the same level offensively. With Toronto still very much in the wild card race, getting Smith back healthy as quickly as possible has to be the priority.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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