Brandon Drury, once part of a rare Blue Jays-Yankees trade, has been released again.

Kansas City's Triple-A affiliate cut him Monday, according to the official transaction log, ending his latest bid to work back to the majors.

Toronto has generally avoided trading directly with division rivals, which made his 2018 arrival notable in the first place.

The Blue Jays sent left-hander J.A. Happ to New York at that year's deadline, receiving Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney in return.

Drury had already struggled in New York, limited to 18 games there after migraines and inconsistent production followed his earlier trade from Arizona.

Toronto didn't fix things either. A broken hand hit shortly after the trade, and his 2019 season produced a .218 average with 15 home runs and 41 RBIs.

The Blue Jays designated him for assignment in September 2020, closing that chapter for good.

Why this release marks a real crossroads for his career

Drury signed a minor-league deal with the Royals over the offseason, hoping for one more shot at a big-league roster.

Instead, his 2026 season at Triple-A never gained traction.

"On the whole, this year's Triple-A numbers don't look great," Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. "In 212 plate appearances, he has a .226/.354/.362 line and 90 wRC+."

He hasn't appeared in the majors since 2024 with the Angels, extending a stretch of diminishing opportunities.

His versatility has always been the calling card, logging time at second, third, shortstop, and the outfield over his career.

His best stretch actually came well after Toronto, combining for 28 home runs and 87 RBIs with a .813 OPS between the Reds and Padres in 2022, good for a Silver Slugger.

That peak feels distant now. At 34, Drury heads back to the open market, searching for one more organization willing to give him a chance.

Whether that opportunity comes, or this release marks the effective end of his playing career, is the question hanging over him as he looks for his next move.