Blue Jays' search for middle infield upgrade could lead them to Willy Adames

The Toronto Blue Jays have been rejected by several of the top free agents in the recent past. They must have learned their lesson by now to have an alternative plan when those pursuits don't net them those players. So, what is the Blue Jays backup plan if they don't land Brandon Lowe or Jazz Chisholm?

The Blue Jays' past pursuits could lead observers to get a better sense of what's coming next. According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, the Blue Jays pursued CJ Abrams and Zach Neto at the 2026 trade deadline. Bannon also name-dropped San Francisco Giants infielder Willy Adames, though the $150+ million remaining on his contract could serve as an obstacle.

"The Jays could return to discussions they had at the 2026 trade deadline for Washington Nationals infielder CJ Abrams or Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (though the Angels don’t currently have a general manager)," Bannon said.

Abrams has two years of team control remaining, but his future defensive home is a little questionable. The infielder has been a Blue Jays target in the past, and he posted outstanding production in 152 games for the Nationals. Abrams hit .261 with an .834 OPS, 93 runs scored, 30 doubles, 33 home runs and 106 RBI. The 25-year-old was named to his second All-Star game. The home run and RBI tallies were both career highs during his five-year MLB career.

A package centered around Johnny King and Nolan Perry would certainly be the ask from a pitching-starved Washington Nationals organization. For the Blue Jays, Ernie Clement is versatile defensively, as long as he improves on a .494 OPS after the All-Star break last season.

Andrés Giménez at shortstop won't preclude Toronto from seeking to raise the offensive ceiling. Abrams could then play either second base or shortstop, after Washington gave Abrams some second base reps at the end of the season.

Neto has almost exclusively played shortstop with three years of control remaining. The 25-year-old was solid with the Los Angeles Angels in 157 games last season, posting a .239 average, .766 OPS, 102 runs scored, 31 doubles, 27 home runs and 77 RBI. Neto will probably not last at shortstop over those three seasons, but his overall consistency is impressive.

As Bannon hilariously pointed out, the Angels don't really have a general manager currently in place. In any event, the Blue Jays can certainly keep tabs on Neto, and eventually strike when the iron is hot.

WIlly Adames is an interesting infield addition for the Blue Jays to consider

Adames is a more interesting case to explore. Giants fans are probably thrilled that a team would be willing to take a huge contract off their hands. While his numbers have been disappointing in San Francisco, maybe the Blue Jays saw something they liked in late July. In hindsight, it's a good thing they didn't pull that trigger after it was revealed he battled back issues all season before succumbing to a sprained left elbow in late August.

Adames is still only 31 years old and won't be a free agent until 2032. The native of the Dominican Republic is certainly a positive clubhouse influence after a season in which the chemistry inside Toronto's room may have been lacking. The Blue Jays could be forced to eat money at the end of the contract, but the ownership group should be able to take a shot at his potential.

The good news is that the Blue Jays are casting a wide net in free agency. They have their hands in enough markets that they should be able to come away with something. Good news is coming in the near future, even if it will be slightly altered because of the impending lockout.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow