Blue Jays: Jonatan Clase given an additional option year

The Toronto Blue Jays have some time with Jonatan Clase.

At some point during the off-season, it appears as if the outfielder was given an additional option year, making it possible for the Blue Jays to send him down to the minor leagues without needing to designate him for assignment.

It’s a big boost for the team, as the switch-hitting outfielder has an interesting makeup. Acquired before the 2024 trade deadline alongside Jacob Sharp for Yimi García, Clase was an average hitter with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, slashing .255/.335/.403 with seven home runs in 352 plate appearances. He hit two additional home runs with the Blue Jays, including a game-tying home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in early June.

Although it was an average season at the level as a 23-year-old, Clase hasn’t quite shown the promise he had earlier in his career. In 2023, the outfielder split his time between the Seattle Mariners’ High-A and Double-A teams, slashing .242/.353/.449 with 20 home runs in 595 plate appearances. That was sandwiched between years where he hit 13 home runs.

There’s more pop in his bat than he’s shown at the Triple-A level over the past two seasons, which is paired nicely with plus speed. Last season with the Bisons, Clase stole 30 of 34 bases, as well as three bases in four attempts with the Blue Jays. That’s a better percentage than his 38 stolen bases in 51 attempts in 2024, but far below the 79 stolen bases in 94 attempts in 2023.

With the additional option year, it’ll be interesting to see if Clase can return to the form he had in 2023. If so, there’ll be outfield roster spots opened up after the 2026 season, as both George Springer and Daulton Varsho are set to be free agents. Joey Loperfido, RJ Schreck, and Yohendrick Piñango are a few other outfield prospect/young players who are currently in the upper minors. Funnily enough, all four outfielders mentioned (Clase included), were acquired by the Blue Jays before the 2024 trade deadline.

He’ll more than likely get a look at some point in 2026.