The Blue Jays have released shortstop prospect Raimundo de los Santos, who has elected free agency. It's a surprising exit for a young infielder once seen as promising.

The move continues a week of roster cleanup in Toronto. Pitcher Tanner Andrews was also released, and Rudy Martin Jr. elected free agency after being outrighted.

Minor league free agency opened Monday. Clubs across baseball are reshaping their systems before the winter market heats up.

De los Santos now gets a fresh start. For a young shortstop, a new organization can mean a clearer path to playing time.

Toronto's middle-infield pipeline has gotten crowded. The club signed 15-year-old Dominican shortstop Angel Montas to a record $5.5 million deal and added Dutch shortstop Cayro Hazel this fall.

Was there still room for him? Apparently not.

Angel Montas and Cayro Hazel reshape the Blue Jays' shortstop pipeline

Higher up the ladder, JoJo Parker posted a .399 on-base percentage this season, and Josh Kasevich drew attention as a Rule 5-eligible infielder.

The organization also traded former top shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala to the Angels in the José Soriano deal. He's since become the Angels' No. 1 prospect.

That trade is a reminder of how quickly shortstop prospects can change trajectories. Toronto has to be careful about which ones it lets walk.

Releasing a promising young shortstop is always risky. The Jays clearly believe their newer additions have higher ceilings, but they'd better be right.

It's like thinning out a vegetable garden. You pull a few plants so the strongest can grow, and sometimes you regret which ones you pulled.

The details behind the decision weren't made public. Whether it came down to performance, roster space or development fit remains unclear.

For the young infielder, the next step is finding an organization that wants to invest in him. Plenty of players have blossomed after a change of scenery.

For Ross Atkins' front office, the bet is that the shortstop pipeline is deep enough to lose one. Time will tell whether that confidence was earned.