Why Blue Jays shouldn't trade 'Swiss Army knife' Ernie Clement

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Why Blue Jays shouldn't trade 'Swiss Army knife' Ernie Clement

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Nov 13, 2026 3:37 PM ET

Rumors have emerged regarding teams having interest in Toronto Blue Jays utility infielder Ernie Clement. The Blue Jays, though, would be wise to hold onto their valuable ''Swiss Army knife.''

While teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers have been mentioned as possible suitors for Clement, he is exactly the type of valuable asset Toronto should hold on to.

He possesses several qualities that make him a worthwhile infielder outside of what stats indicate. He contains defensive versatility which provides flexibility for manager John Schneider to construct his lineup. He also is a unique hitter, as he's good at hitting pitches outside of the strike zone.

Despite recording a -5 Outs Above Average (OAA) this past season, he did have some impressive defensive moments, including a highlight reel leaping catch on Aug. 6 at Wrigley Field. Clement was also a Gold Glove finalist in 2024 for third base and in 2025 for third base and the utility position.

There are several compelling free agents the Blue Jays could target to upgrade second base, such as Brandon Lowe, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ketel Marte. The team can still upgrade second and keep Clement in the process.

Clement carries a strong contract approach at the plate and is good at putting the ball in play. His solid plate discipline comes with an incredibly low strikeout rate of 9.3% (98th percentile). The Blue Jays can hold onto Clement by utilizing him in a super-utility role rather than having him play as an everyday second baseman where he saw an increased workload in 2026.

Teams have inquired about Ernie Clement, according to @BNightengale. What is your asking price? https://t.co/NRbFHPCyCI
— SleeperBlueJays (@SleeperBlueJays) November 13, 2026

Why the Blue Jays should hold off on trading Ernie Clement

If the Blue Jays were to trade him, they may not get him for his peak value following his second-half struggles in 2026. But they ought to give Clement another season to prove himself while regaining his offensive consistency.

Across his first 106 games of 2026, he logged a .742 OPS. That number dropped to .438 across his last 52 games, but Clement was also playing with an injury. In late August, he fouled a 98-mph sinker into his groin against the Kansas City Royals.

Rather than going on the injury list, which would have seen him miss extended time, he continued to play through it. However, this was when his offense took a steep decline. During that stretch, Clement only hit .180 with 31 hits across 50 games with one home run and 13 RBI.

But Clement has grown into a fan favorite who has seen major development since Toronto acquired him in a minor league deal in 2023 from the Athletics. He was a dominant weapon in the postseason, as he set an all-time MLB single-postseason record by logging 30 hits during the Blue Jays' 2025 playoff run, and is also a back-to-back "Heart and Hustle'' award winner in 2025-26.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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