Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement and outfielder Nathan Lukes have been named as potential commerce candidates this offseason.
With the Blue Jays lacking the playoffs this previous season, the staff is more likely to make some modifications to their lineup.
Might that contain transferring certainly one of, or each of, Clement and Lukes? In keeping with MLB Commerce Rumors, each Clement and Lukes are names to observe for this offseason with regards to trades.
The Case for Buying and selling Ernie Clement
The 30-year-old Clement, who spent a lot of the 12 months as Toronto’s second baseman, simply completed up his fourth season with the Blue Jays, which was very a lot a season of two halves.
Within the first half of the season, Clement was among the many best second basemen within the league. He was named an All-Star for the primary time, accumulating essentially the most votes within the American League in consequence.
Nevertheless, his manufacturing completely cratered within the second half of the 12 months, and his ultimate slash line of .259/.285/.364 was extraordinarily disappointing contemplating the sturdy begin to the season that he had.
In keeping with MLBTR, Clement is projected to make $7.6 million in arbitration. He has already been talked about as a non-tender candidate, although the staff would a lot fairly favor to commerce him and extract some worth from him than non-tender him and let him hit free company.
Given Clement’s worth as a utility participant that may play many positions across the infield, the percentages are that Toronto finally ends up holding him. However a commerce can’t be utterly dominated out given his anticipated excessive arbitration wage after a down 12 months on the plate.
The Case for Buying and selling Nathan Lukes
One other potential commerce candidate is Lukes, the Blue Jays’ proper fielder who additionally simply accomplished his fourth season for Toronto.
The 32-year-old Lukes was stable for Toronto, with an general slash line of .275/.327/.387 regardless of a gradual begin to the 12 months resulting from well being points stemming from a bout of vertigo. Lukes’s protection in proper discipline was additionally elite, and he’s up for the American League Gold Glove award for proper fielders this season.
Luke is projected to make solely $2.1 million in arbitration. That’s not a lot cash in any respect, particularly for a Blue Jays staff that’s among the many largest spenders within the sport.
Nevertheless, the Blue Jays could also be purchasing within the upper-tier marketplace for free-agent outfielders this offseason, and in the event that they signal, say, a Seiya Suzuki to return in and play proper discipline for the staff subsequent season and past, it may probably push Lukes out, despite the fact that he’s a useful participant for the staff.
The percentages are that the Blue Jays would preserve Lukes on their roster subsequent season, particularly since his projected wage in arbitration is so low in comparison with his upside in manufacturing, and particularly since he may slot in because the staff’s fourth outfielder in the event that they signal a free-agent bat.
However on the identical time, given Lukes would have surplus commerce worth, an offseason commerce additionally can’t be dominated out.
Like HEAVY’s content material? Remember to observe us.
This text was initially printed on HEAVY
The publish Ernie Clement & Nathan Lukes Named Blue Jays Commerce Candidates appeared first on HEAVY.