Blue Jays fans cringed in collective fashion when both Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman exited Sunday’s game due to injuries. Chapman has already been placed on the injured list with a strain in his right hand, while Bichette was out of last night’s lineup due to the quad discomfort that forced him from the prior day’s contest. While the Jays termed his exit precautionary, Bichette underwent an MRI last night, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The team will presumably have an update on the star shortstop’s status today.
Toronto called up journeyman infielder Ernie Clement when Chapman hit the IL and went with him at shortstop and rookie Davis Schneider at third base in yesterday’s win over the Nationals. The 24-year-old Schneider has already popped five homers in his first 48 big league plate appearances, batting .425/.521/.875 in that tiny sample. Schneider has also fanned at a 29.2% rate and is sporting an outlandish .571 BABIP that he won’t sustain, but he’s nevertheless provided a jolt for the Toronto lineup. That arrangement could be in place a bit more regularly if Bichette misses time, although there’s room for the Jays to get creative.
One possibility that’s currently under consideration would be at least occasional time back at the hot corner for first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., it seems. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports that while the Jays aren’t currently planning to start Guerrero at third base in Chapman’s absence, they’re open to using him there late in games as they make substitutions around the diamond. Guerrero has been taking grounders at the hot corner in recent days.
It’s also worth noting that the Jays will soon have two more roster spots to potentially add some depth with Chapman out at least 10 days and Bichette potentially sidelined as well. Rosters are set to expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1, which could clear a path for Toronto to tap further into its minor league system for reinforcements. Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic suggests that infielders Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez and Spencer Horwitz could all be considered for a big league call when rosters expand.
Each of Barger, Martinez and Horowitz is already on the 40-man roster. The former two could benefit the Jays with their versatility, as that pair has experience at each of shortstop, third base and second base. Horwitz has played primarily first base and left field in his professional career.
FanGraphs currently ranks Barger as the game’s No. 36 overall prospect. He’s spent time on the injured list but has turned in a .257/.371/.414 slash in 65 Triple-A games since returning, walking at a hearty 14.6% clip against a 21.1% strikeout rate. He hit .308/.378/.555 between High-A, Double-A and Triple-A last year. Martinez landed on Baseball America’s top-100 list prior to the 2021 and 2022 seasons but saw his stock tumble with a rough year in Double-A last year. The 21-year-old, has bounced back to some extent this season, posting a combined .242/.344/.496 line between Double-A and Triple-A (including a .276/.355/.517 slash at the higher of those two levels). Horwitz went 2-for-8 with a pair of walks in a brief MLB debut earlier this season and has slashed .339/.450/.499 in 476 Triple-A plate appearances, walking (15.8%) more often than he’s struck out (15.1%) in the process.
It’s almost like the Jays are trying to lose
How is calling up Clement better than one of Barger or Martinez?
Atkins needs to go.
First … Don’t diss too much on Ernie.
Anyways you don’t want to be learning on the job at the mlb level , especially in the field , during a pressurized playoff push.
Atkins has built the best pitching staff , so far this year in mlb.
He also built a roster that YOU thought was great and a WS contender.
Why would you fire him. ?
Fans way too emotional. Live game to game.
Atkins has done some good, 3 years ago.
The last 18 months have been bad decision after bad decision
Especially this year.
Why sign Kiermier, then a week later trade our best prospect and an integral lineup piece for Varsho, who are turning out to be identical players except Varsho has slightly more power.
Why not give the extra Million or two to Bellinger, He’d be a godsend right now. Imagine him splitting Bo and Vlad instead of Belt
Why not give that extra lotto pick for Pham or Teo at the deadline? The team has been missing that power RHH
Why are we watching Espinal blow plays all year and have a bad bat, Barger and Martinez are fine defensively and will likely hit better than Espinal.
Why did we watch Manoah struggle and give away a dozen games?
Schneider also needs to go, he’s mis managed too many spots that are no brainers. Gave away a half dozen wins.
The biggest one lately of not playing Schneider (Davis) more than once a week.
Not moving Springer out of the leadoff spot 2 months ago.
Pulling pitchers way too early.
Jesus he even forgets the rules and goes out to “chat” with Manoah….for the 2nd mound visit and didn’t have a RP ready.
Pinch runs for Schneider like he’s Kirk level slow. Wastes the bench so there’s no other alternatives when Biggio is up vs LHP.
Chapman has to remind him Ohtani is the best LHH in the world, probably shouldn’t pitch a strike to him in a tie game.
The list goes on and on.
I refer back to Sparky Anderson when asked “ What makes you a great manager?” replies as he points across to the locker room .. “ I give the ball to Tom”
I don’t know which metrics you’re using but the Mariners have a better pitching staff when looking at staff ERA and Starting Rotation WAR and Reliever WAR. But I grant you Toronto has a very solid pitching staff, just not #1.
This site is starting to have more add’s on it than an F1 drivers jacket
Leave the prospects alone. Pick up Nelson Cruz and Billy Hamilton.
Not Nelson. He’s done. Hamilton can’t hit either of course but Jays are seeking speed for late game pinch running and of defence I heard.
Should have stuck it out with Paul DeJong. Sure he was batting .068, but he’s on fire with San Francisco with a .150 BA.
Toronto needs to resign Chapman at almost any cost. His defensive is excellent, still under 30 and I strongly believe his bat will improve next year.
He’s closer to 31 than he is under 30, and you know Boras will be looking for a ten year max deal.
I’d be extremely leery of signing Chapman to a long term deal; Boras clients have a habit of going on early retirement as soon as they get paid.
I hope they don’t resign him. He’s going to cost a fortune. Great defense, but average hitter at best.
In the long run this team is in trouble. Vlady looks ordinary and not worth the big contract he seeks. Bo will be play out his extension and go to the highest bidder when he’s a free agent.
3 time all star by 24…..very ordinary indeed
Yeah a whole country votes for an ordinary player. You would probably give vlady a $300M contract.
He wasn’t voted in this year….
Look at batted ball data across his career and come back and tell me he’s ordinary at 24 years old.
Learn to read. First I said he looks ordinary now, not two years ago when he was playing at MVP levels.
Why don’t you look at his numbers this year and tell me if he’s well above average?
His wRC+ is barely in the top 10 for first basemen since 2022. He in the same category as Josh Naylor or Brandon drury, but I bet you think those two are super stars as well.
So learn to read this, I am telling you he is ordinary, now! Got it? Probably not….
Learn to read lol…..you don’t even know what you wrote.
“Average hitter at best” lol
You mean his near mvp season where he was at his best was average ?
Looks ordinary …..he’s 24 having a not great season…..marginal to even call this season good. All the greats have years that aren’t their best.
“Average hitter at best” could be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read tbh
You can’t read, it’s pretty obvious. You must be the duumbest person on the internet. Hahahah
Damn that’s funny…..calling someone dumb while spelling it wrong lol
There is no reason to assume his bat will “improve” they will not be resigning him. Outside of Otahni, he’s going to sign for the most money he can get.
Toronto has 2 guys in the short term that they will need to pay a lot to retain. Only way I see Chapman coming back is if they can move off Springers contract (really don’t see that happening) besides Passan says now that Otahni’s price will drop fairly considerably, Toronto could be a team to watch and I’d much rather spend on him over Chapman.
Why? Why would his bat improve into his 30s? His glovework is great…..but a steady decline with the bat is far more likely
Not at almost any cost. At a fair cost, or move on.
Vlad at 3B screams desperation.
Seems like he’s been around forever , but Vladdy is only 24.
Think about it.
What’s there to “think about”?
Barger has to be the next option, unless they want to take a flier on Profar, who would be of little help on the infield (where is Odor, by the way). A beat reporter just opined on the radio that if this Jays team doesn’t make the playoffs this year they need to consider spinning Vlad Jr for assets (3rd & OF). Not the craziest thing I’ve heard.