1 dream target, 1 realistic option and 1 mistake for Blue Jays’ middle infield search

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the offseason searching for opportunities to reshape the middle of their infield. Shortstop Andrés Giménez earned a Gold Glove nomination. His bat, however, went through some incredibly cold stretches.

Second baseman Ernie Clement faded hard over the second half of the season. He was an All-Star game starter, but hit one home run and posted a .493 OPS in the final 60+ games.

The lineup could use another impact bat — or at least a reliable hitter who can complement this middle infield contingent. The front office could take a big swing on the trade market, pursue a more attainable free agent or gamble on upside.

CJ Abrams, Luis Arraez and Matt Shaw represent the full spectrum of middle infield targets for Blue Jays

Dream target: CJ Abrams

CJ Abrams would be the most ambitious target for Toronto this offseason. The two-time All-Star does not reach free agency until after the 2029 season and is projected to earn approximately $10.2 million through arbitration this year. Washington has reportedly listened to offers on him before and could pull the trigger this offseason.

Abrams would give the Blue Jays two things they lacked in 2026: power and speed. He has hit 92 home runs since 2022, posted an .834 OPS and 3.7 fWAR in 2026, and ranked in the 92nd percentile in batting value. His speed ranked in the 79th percentile, while Toronto as a team ranked 25th in sprint speed.

So why does Abrams qualify as the dream target? The acquisition cost could be more than the Blue Jays are willing to give up.

Washington has high-end infield prospects in their system ready to move into the void Abrams could leave, but the price would still be steep. Even if the Blue Jays offered a proposal that featured young pitchers Nolan Perry and Daniel Guerra that still might not get it done. If it did, though, this would be a clear win-now move for the Blue Jays for 2027 and beyond.

Realistic target: Luis Arráez

Last year, Jays Journal also highlighted Luis Arráez as a player who made sense for the Blue Jays because of his elite contact approach, his ability to post high batting averages with almost no strikeouts and Toronto’s need for a high-contact hitter at the top of the order.

Yes, Brett Bateman could be that player in 2027, but he is young and could take a step back as the league adjusts to him. If Bateman locks down the leadoff spot, having Arráez hit in front of or behind him could give opposing pitchers all kinds of trouble. Toronto could also place Vladimir Guerrero Jr. between them to break up the back-to-back left-handed bats. Either way, adding a second baseman who delivers a quality at-bat almost every time up would give the lineup options.

One of the previous knocks against Arráez was his defence, but that greatly improved in 2026, when he was worth 10.1 defensive fWAR. He also posted a higher walk rate (5.2%) than strikeout rate (4.3%) for a second straight year. Putting him in a platoon with Clement at second base feels like a winning formula.

Mistake target: Matt Shaw

MLB.com identified Matt Shaw as a possible trade candidate, noting that the Cubs could move him to capitalize o a relatively weak free-agent market. His ability to play both second and third base could make him appealing.

Shaw is young, controllable and versatile — all traits general manager Ross Atkins tends to value. He has played just about everywhere for the Cubs at the MLB level except catcher and shortstop, although he did play shortstop in the minors. After 203 games across two seasons, however, his offensive numbers leave plenty to be desired.

Shaw owns a .230/.305/.399 slash line and a 97 wRC+. His 9.3% walk rate is fine, but the 20.2% strikeout rate does little to separate him from the glove-first options Toronto already has.

The Blue Jays already have several players who lead with the glove but do not provide enough thump over a full season, especially up the middle. If Toronto is going to platoon Clement and Giménez with somebody, that addition should be more of a bat-first player. The Cubs might be willing to sell Shaw based on his potential and upside, but the Blue Jays cannot be in the market for too many “prove you belong here” types.

To be fair, Shaw still has the look of a player with all the tools to break out. In 68 Triple-A games across different stints over the last three seasons, he has slashed .294/.396/.522 with a .918 OPS and 13 home runs. He also slashed .281/.366/.477 with an .843 OPS over 101 games at Double-A. There is something there; it is just a matter of when he will unlock it.

Toronto has options across the trade market and in free agency, but getting it right will make a huge difference in whether the Blue Jays get back to the postseason or not.

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