Ernie Clement at risk of losing his spot with the Toronto Blue Jays after latest development

That's why the Foul Territory clip making the rounds matters, it frames Clement's playing time as mostly safe unless the club brings Bichette back. The key piece is Ken Rosenthal's belief that a Bichette reunion is trending the other way.

Clement played like someone who belongs in the daily conversation. In 2025 he logged 157 games, hit .277/.313/.398 with nine homers, and posted a 98 wRC+, while FanGraphs credited him with 3.2 WAR and strong defensive value.

Clement is 29, a 2017 fourth-round pick, 132nd overall, and he's built for the modern infield shuffle. Fans love guys like this because they erase mistakes with their glove, and they never need a day to «find their swing.»

The Blue Jays also removed one big layer of uncertainty by tendering Clement a 2026 contract before the non-tender deadline. That keeps him in the mix no matter how the shortstop market shakes out.

The money should stay manageable, too, which is part of his appeal. Spotrac lists him at an estimated $3.5 million for 2026 arbitration, while MLB Trade Rumors-style projections often land closer to $4.3 million, and either number is a bargain for a multi-position regular.

So where does the squeeze really come from if Bichette doesn't return? It's less about shortstop, and more about how Toronto allocates third base and second base, especially after adding Kazuma Okamoto, who is expected to play primarily at third.

Clement's future feels pretty clear to me: keep hitting enough to stay around league average, keep vacuuming up outs all over the dirt, and he'll keep forcing his way into the lineup card when camp opens.