Abrupt Daz Cameron DFA only further reinforces why Luis Robert Jr. claim would've made sense for Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays’ decision to designate Daz Cameron for assignment did not come as a major surprise. If anything, it made their pass on Luis Robert Jr. look even more questionable.

Cameron’s brief stint in Toronto came and went quickly. The 29-year-old right-handed hitter appeared in eight games, made 25 plate appearances and produced five hits, including one impressive home run.

But he also struck out at a 28-per-cent clip, did not draw a walk and wasn't ever going to be a long-term solution in the outfield.

That is what makes the Robert decision sting even more. The Blue Jays reportedly had waiver priority over the Baltimore Orioles, who ultimately claimed Robert from the New York Mets. Toronto had a chance to add the former All-Star, while at the same time, blocking a direct wild-card competitor from improving.

We can't pretend Robert has been the 2023 version of himself all season though. He entered this week hitting .223/.303/.399 with a .702 OPS, 10 home runs, 23 RBI and a 96 wRC+. He also missed significant time with a back injury, but his overall game has been trending downwards for a few seasons now.

But the argument for claiming him was never the fact that Robert was guaranteed to come in and steal the show. It was that he possessed the tools to raise Toronto's floor, while also showcasing a recent offensive surge that would have made him an interesting September gamble, rather than the internal alternatives Toronto is already cycling through.

Robert still brings above-average athleticism and legitimate center-field ability. According to FanGraphs, he entered this stretch with a career mark of 32 outs above average and 32 fielding runs above average. He also ranks well in speed and arm strength, giving him more ways to help than a one-dimensional bench bat.

In August, Robert hit .267/.321/.520 with six home runs and a 128 wRC+. That production would have ranked near the very top of Toronto’s lineup for the month, trailing only Alejandro Kirk and George Springer among the players who are getting every day at-bats.

Blue Jays' current outfield group could have been boosted by Luis Robert Jr., especially after Daz Cameron was DFA'd

The Blue Jays’ outfield picture has been toeing the line all year. Myles Straw has helped in his role but has not been a middle-of-the-order answer. Jesús Sánchez has brought some on-base ability but he was supposed to provide a lot of power, and his power has so far been limited power. He's hit eight home runs all season and only two since May 27.

Cameron was a right-handed depth option whose roster fit disappeared almost immediately. Sean Keys now adds offensive intrigue, but he doesn't have a true position to earn him every day at-bats. Mostly a third baseman / first baseman in the minors, he's gotten a handful of reps in the outfield. remains something of an open question after recent outfield reps in the minors.

He hit .314/.432/.570 with an OPS of 1.003 and seven home runs in 33 games after being sent down following his first call up earlier in the season. Those numbers will play, but the Blue Jays just need to make sure he has somewhere to fit in defensively.

The real sting is the fact that Robert landed with Baltimore. claimed him while sitting directly in the same wild-card chase as Toronto. The Orioles. like the Blue Jays, needed another right-handed outfield bat with upside, and some defensive credibility. The fact that they found a way to solve those needs while being directly in font of the Blue Jays in the wild-card chase could make all the difference.

After a 6-1 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday, the Blue Jays are now sitting at 68-71 and 2.5 games behind the Guardians for the final wild-card spot, while Baltimore is also within striking distance.

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