The Blue Jays should add a second baseman this winter and move Ernie Clement back into a full-time utility role. It's best for the lineup, and for him.

Ross Atkins has already opened the door. At his end-of-season availability, he said Clement will have to earn the second base job in 2027.

The numbers explain why. After an All-Star first half, he hit just .203 after the break and finished with an 80 wRC+.

The contact quality slipped badly. His .258 xwOBA ranked second-worst among qualified hitters.

His 44.4% chase rate was also the highest on the team. Pitchers simply stopped giving him anything to hit.

So why keep him at all? Because his real value has never been as an everyday second baseman.

Ernie Clement's versatility is worth more off the everyday lineup card

Since 2024, he's logged 3,595 defensive innings across five positions, more than any other Blue Jay.

He's been a Gold Glove finalist twice and drew a utility nomination in 2025. His best defensive work has come at third base, where he's posted +8 Fielding Run Value since 2024.

He's also under team control through 2029, which makes him a cheap, flexible piece for years.

The upgrade options are real. Brandon Lowe hit 35 homers for the Pirates, Gleyber Torres brings patience and a WBC bond with Andrés Giménez, and C.J. Abrams offers power by trade.

Any of them beats Clement as the everyday answer. Toronto finished last in homers, and second base is one of the few spots where it can add real thump.

He's a Swiss Army knife, and you don't use a Swiss Army knife to drive every nail. You keep it handy for everything else.

There's one wrinkle. He has no minor league options left, so the Jays can't stash him in Buffalo if things go sideways.

That's fine, because a utility role keeps him on the roster anyway. He'd get plenty of at-bats covering injuries, which Toronto dealt with all through 2026.

Clement set an MLB postseason record with 30 hits in 2025. The best way to keep that player valuable is to stop asking him to be something he isn't every single day.