Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins says Ernie Clement has ‘got to earn’ everyday role in 2027 - Toronto Star

Atkins said he expects Clement to be a 'very good regular,' but backed off later when asked if he would be the everyday second baseman in 2027.

Ernie Clement had an up-and-down season, becoming an all-star before struggling in the second half.

Two years ago, when the Blue Jays finished last in the American League East after back-to-back playoff appearances, there was sombre reflection from president Mark Shapiro at his end-of-season post-mortem with the media and a promise that the baseball operations department would improve.

“Ross has to be better,” Shapiro said at the time about his hand-picked general manager, Ross Atkins, now going into his 12th season at the helm.

This time around, after another season in the basement (albeit bookended by a World Series appearance), Shapiro again spoke of disappointment but noted that although the season ended with three meaningless games at home against the cellar-dwelling Cincinnati Reds, sellout crowds at the Rogers Centre made it feel otherwise.

“The level of appreciation and engagement between the fans and our players was clear,” said Shapiro. “It was palpable, you could feel it. And if you were to drop in on those games with no context ... you would have thought we were playing for a playoff spot down to the last out.”

He said he needs to work with “determination, commitment and a sense of urgency” to make sure “we hold up our end of that covenant with the fans, our end of our commitment to them, that we play championship-calibre baseball and we play into October.”

Ernie Clement had a rougher time as the season progressed. The Jays fan favourite and first-time all-star hit .208 in August with only three extra-base hits, then dipped further to .150 in September with a horrific .386 OPS. The contact skills never left, though. The 30-year-old infielder struck out just five times in 80 September at-bats.

Atkins was asked about Clement’s role for next season, when he could make around $7 million (U.S.) after salary arbitration.

Why Clement’s high school coach and teammates think the Jays all-star could have had a career on the ice.