Making Sense of 2nd Base
If the Blue Jays are going to acquire players through trades this offseason, they could use their surplus of 2nd baseman as a starting point. With no fewer then seven players who can play up the middle, there won't be room for all of them come opening day. Here is a closer look at three players who could be dealt before the season starts.
Davis Schneider:
Oh, how the mighty have fallen! After earning folk hero status following his legendary start to his big league career in 2023, «Babe's» stock plummeted following an abysmal 2nd half of 2024. While he still has some pop - his 13 HRs are a testament to that - his .191. avg and 78 OPS+ did him no favours. Plus, with Addison Barger rebounding strong and filling the same role as 2nd baseman/outfielder, and Orelvis Martinez having nothing left to prove in the minors and being given a 2nd shot after his suspension, Schneider's time on the Blue Jays could soon be coming to an end.
Leo Jimenez:
Jimenez performed admirably in his debut season, hitting four home runs in 63 games. The rest of his offensive stats were average or slightly below average as he hit a .229. clip with a 329. OBP and 97 OPS+. While Jimenez rates as an above average defender who can also play shortstop, with Bo Bichette expected to have a bounce-back year, there simply won't be enough playing time for Jimenez. He would fit a need for several teams looking to complement their bench with a solid middle infielder.
Spencer Horwitz:
The fans love Spencer Horwitz. The Blue Jays love Spencer Horwitz. Everybody loves Spencer Horwitz. But baseball is a business, and a cruel one at that. While Horwitz is a strong hitter who had a very solid 125 OPS+, he is a victim of a positional logjam. While performing admirably at 2nd base after making the transition from first, the Blue Jays prefer Will Wagner's defence to Horwitz'. With Vladdy fully entrenched at first base for at least one more season, that leaves Horwitz to DH, which is not exactly a position one wants to be in at 27. While the Jays could get creative with usage here, it feels they will at least be listening to offers for Horwitz.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 2 | 205 ANSWERS Making Sense of 2nd Base Who will be at 2nd base opening day? | ||
| Will Wagner | 102 | 49.8 % |
| Ernie Clement | 54 | 26.3 % |
| Orelvis Martinez | 14 | 6.8 % |
| Somebody else | 35 | 17.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
